CVE-2022-20125 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2022
In GBoard, there is a possible way to bypass factory reset protections due to a sandbox escape. This could lead to local escalation of privilege if an attacker has physical access to the device, with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10 Android-11 Android-12 Android-12LAndroid ID: A-194402515
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20125 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw within Google's GBoard keyboard application affecting multiple Android versions including Android 10 through Android 12L. This security weakness resides in the application's handling of factory reset protections, which are designed to prevent unauthorized access to device data even after a factory reset operation has been initiated. The flaw allows for potential local privilege escalation when an attacker possesses physical access to an affected device, making it particularly concerning for mobile device security.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper sandbox boundaries within the GBoard application that enable malicious code execution outside of the intended security confinement. This sandbox escape occurs through mechanisms that permit the application to access system resources and permissions beyond its normal operational scope. The vulnerability specifically targets the factory reset protection mechanisms that are integral to Android's security architecture, effectively undermining the fundamental security assumptions that protect user data during device recovery processes. According to CWE classification, this represents a sandbox escape vulnerability categorized under CWE-254, which deals with security mechanisms that are bypassed or circumvented.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-20125 is significant as it enables attackers with physical device access to escalate privileges without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. This means that once an attacker gains physical possession of an Android device running an affected version of GBoard, they can potentially access sensitive data, install malicious applications, or modify system configurations that should normally be restricted to authorized users. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently in the background and does not require any user interaction or additional malicious payloads to exploit. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques under the T1068 category, specifically targeting the use of sandbox escapes to gain elevated system privileges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several attack patterns commonly observed in mobile security breaches, particularly those involving physical access attacks and post-exploitation privilege escalation. The fact that no additional execution privileges are required makes this attack vector particularly attractive to threat actors who may have already gained physical access to target devices through theft, lost device scenarios, or social engineering attacks. The vulnerability affects all Android versions mentioned in the CVE description, indicating a widespread impact across the mobile platform ecosystem. Organizations and individual users should consider this vulnerability as a critical security concern, especially for devices that handle sensitive information or operate in environments where physical security may be compromised. Mitigation efforts should focus on immediate application updates, device security policy enforcement, and potential device-level security hardening measures to prevent unauthorized access and privilege escalation.