CVE-2022-20352 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 08/11/2022
In addProviderRequestListener of LocationManagerService.java, there is a possible way to learn which packages request location information due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-12 Android-12LAndroid ID: A-222473855
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20352 resides within the Android operating system's location services implementation, specifically in the LocationManagerService.java file where the addProviderRequestListener method fails to perform adequate permission validation. This flaw represents a significant security oversight that allows unauthorized applications to potentially discover which packages are requesting location information, creating an information disclosure risk that could be exploited without requiring any special privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability affects Android 12 and Android 12L versions, indicating it was present in the latest major releases at the time of discovery. The Android ID A-222473855 categorizes this issue within the platform's security tracking system, highlighting its importance in the Android security ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a missing permission check within the location services framework, which violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control. When applications attempt to register for location provider request listeners, the system should verify that the requesting package has appropriate permissions before allowing access to this information. However, the current implementation lacks this verification step, creating a pathway for malicious applications to enumerate other applications that have requested location services. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and represents a classic case of insufficient authorization checks that could be exploited to gain insights into the application ecosystem. The flaw essentially creates a side-channel attack vector where an application can indirectly learn about the presence and activities of other applications through location service interactions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable more sophisticated attacks within the Android security model. An attacker with access to a compromised application could potentially use this information to build profiles of other applications, identify security-sensitive activities, or even craft targeted attacks against specific applications that have location access. The vulnerability's classification as local information disclosure means that it could be exploited by any application running on the device without requiring elevated privileges or additional attack vectors. This makes it particularly concerning because it could be leveraged by malware or malicious applications that are already present on the device to gather intelligence about other applications and their location service usage patterns. The lack of user interaction requirement for exploitation means that the vulnerability could be triggered automatically, making it more dangerous than typical information disclosure flaws that require user engagement.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper permission checks within the LocationManagerService.java file, ensuring that only authorized applications can register for location provider request listeners. The fix should involve adding appropriate permission validation before allowing any package to access or monitor location request information from other applications. Security researchers recommend that developers implement checks that verify the requesting application's identity and permissions against a whitelist of trusted components. This aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and information gathering, where attackers attempt to discover system information to plan further attacks. The Android security team should also consider implementing additional sandboxing measures that prevent applications from accessing metadata about other applications' location service usage patterns. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of Android 12 and 12L where this vulnerability has been addressed, as the fix typically involves strengthening the permission model within the location services framework to prevent unauthorized information access.