CVE-2022-20143 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2022
In addAutomaticZenRule of ZenModeHelper.java, there is a possible permanent denial of service due to resource exhaustion. This could lead to local denial of service with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10 Android-11 Android-12 Android-12LAndroid ID: A-220735360
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20143 resides within the Android operating system's Zen Mode functionality, specifically in the addAutomaticZenRule method of the ZenModeHelper.java file. This issue represents a critical resource exhaustion flaw that can be exploited to achieve permanent denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including Android 10, 11, 12, and 12L, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The flaw operates at the system level where improper resource management leads to exhaustion of critical system resources that are essential for normal operation of the device's notification and zen mode features.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and resource allocation within the automatic zen rule creation mechanism. When an attacker or malicious application invokes the addAutomaticZenRule method, the system fails to properly validate or limit the resources consumed during rule processing. This lack of proper resource management allows for potential exploitation through repeated or excessive calls to the vulnerable method, leading to progressive resource depletion that can ultimately render the device's notification system completely non-functional. The vulnerability manifests as a permanent denial of service because the resource exhaustion occurs at a fundamental level that cannot be easily recovered from without system restart or reboot.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Android device users as it requires only user execution privileges for exploitation, making it accessible to malicious applications installed on the device. The absence of user interaction requirements means that the attack can be executed autonomously without requiring any manual input from the victim. This characteristic transforms what could be a minor inconvenience into a serious security concern, as malicious actors can silently degrade device functionality over time. The impact extends beyond simple notification disruption to potentially affecting the device's overall usability and user experience, as zen mode functionality is integral to Android's user interface management.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for "Network Denial of Service" and T1566.001 for "Phishing via Social Engineering" in the context of how it can be leveraged to create persistent system degradation. Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including system updates and patches provided by Android security teams, application sandboxing measures to limit privilege escalation, and monitoring for suspicious resource consumption patterns. The recommended approach involves deploying the latest security patches from Google, implementing proper application permissions controls, and conducting regular security audits of installed applications to prevent exploitation. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing device management policies that restrict the creation of automatic zen rules and monitor for unusual resource consumption patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.