CVE-2022-20148 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 06/15/2022
In TBD of TBD, there is a possible use-after-free due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege in the kernel with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-219513976References: Upstream kernel
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition occurring in the Android kernel's handling of certain memory management operations. The flaw manifests as a race condition that allows an attacker to manipulate the kernel's memory allocation and deallocation processes, creating a scenario where freed memory can be accessed and potentially reused before proper cleanup occurs. Such conditions are particularly dangerous in kernel space as they can be exploited to gain unauthorized system privileges, making this a severe security concern for Android devices running affected kernel versions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a timing window during which kernel objects are freed but not yet fully cleaned from memory structures. Attackers can exploit this window by carefully orchestrating system calls or memory operations that force the kernel into a state where freed memory segments are accessed after deallocation, leading to potential code execution. This particular race condition affects the kernel's internal memory management subsystem, which is fundamental to system stability and security. The vulnerability requires system execution privileges for exploitation, indicating that the attacker must already have some level of access to the system to leverage this flaw, though the end result enables privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gain root-level access to Android devices. This could enable complete system compromise, allowing unauthorized access to all device data, communication channels, and system resources. The fact that user interaction is not required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security standpoint, as it can be triggered automatically through system operations or background processes. Organizations and users should be particularly vigilant about applying security patches promptly, as this type of kernel-level vulnerability can provide attackers with persistent access to affected systems.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Android security updates, while also implementing monitoring for unusual kernel memory access patterns or system call sequences that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system weaknesses. System administrators should also consider implementing additional kernel security modules and monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation of this race condition, particularly focusing on kernel memory management operations and process scheduling behaviors that could be manipulated by an attacker to trigger the use-after-free condition.