CVE-2022-20310 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2022
In Telecomm, there is a possible disclosure of registered self managed phone accounts due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-13Android ID: A-192663798
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20310 represents a critical permission oversight within the Android telecommunication framework that affects Android 13 systems. This flaw resides in the handling of self-managed phone accounts, which are essential components for managing cellular connections and voice services on Android devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls that fail to properly validate user permissions before exposing sensitive account information. According to the Android security bulletin, this issue affects the core telecomm module where phone account registration data is processed and stored. The missing permission check creates an avenue for unauthorized information disclosure that could potentially compromise the privacy and security of user communication services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a failure in the permission validation mechanism within the Android telecomm framework. When self-managed phone accounts are registered, the system should enforce strict access controls to ensure that only authorized applications or processes can access the associated account information. However, the absence of proper permission verification allows malicious applications with user execution privileges to potentially extract registered phone account details without proper authorization. This flaw operates at the system level where telecomm services interact with the underlying operating system components. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue because it requires local execution privileges but does not necessitate user interaction for exploitation, making it particularly concerning for mobile device security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially compromise the integrity of mobile communication services. Attackers could leverage this weakness to access sensitive telecommunication data including account credentials, registration information, and potentially other related communication parameters. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Android's telecomm services, which are designed to maintain strict isolation between different applications and system services. This issue creates a potential attack vector that could be exploited to gather intelligence about user communication patterns, account configurations, and service provider information. The impact is particularly significant in enterprise environments where mobile device security is paramount and sensitive communication data could be at risk.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework where it relates to privilege escalation and information gathering techniques. The vulnerability aligns with TTPs involving local persistence and credential access, as it allows for unauthorized access to system-level communication data. From a CWE perspective, this represents a weakness in permission checking mechanisms that could be categorized under CWE-284 Access Control Issues. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper access control implementation in mobile operating systems where multiple services and applications interact with sensitive user data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including system updates, application sandboxing, and monitoring for suspicious telecomm service access patterns.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest Android security patches that address the missing permission check in the telecomm framework. System administrators should ensure that all devices running Android 13 are updated to the latest security release to remediate this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing mobile device management solutions that can monitor and restrict access to telecomm services, as well as conducting regular security audits of applications that interact with phone account information. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components and proper validation of access controls in mobile operating systems. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect unusual patterns of telecomm service access that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining robust access controls in mobile environments where sensitive communication data is constantly processed and stored.