CVE-2022-20456 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2023
In AutomaticZenRule of AutomaticZenRule.java, there is a possible failure to persist permissions settings due to resource exhaustion. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10 Android-11 Android-12 Android-12L Android-13Android ID: A-242703780
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20456 resides within the AutomaticZenRule component of Android's system architecture, specifically in the AutomaticZenRule.java file. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that stems from improper handling of permission persistence mechanisms during resource exhaustion scenarios. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including Android 10, 11, 12, 12L, and 13, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The core issue manifests when the system fails to properly persist permission settings under conditions of resource exhaustion, creating a persistent security gap that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw occurs within the AutomaticZenRule implementation where the system's permission management mechanism becomes compromised during resource constraints. When system resources reach exhaustion levels, the permission persistence process fails to complete successfully, leaving the system in an inconsistent state where previously granted permissions may not be properly maintained. This failure creates a potential privilege escalation vector because the system's permission enforcement mechanism becomes unreliable. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-704 as a failure in resource management and permission handling, which directly relates to improper handling of system resources during critical operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the system's permission management framework, making it difficult to detect and mitigate. An attacker with local access can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to bypass normal security controls and access restricted system resources. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any human intervention, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation through system configuration flaws.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple permission bypass as it fundamentally undermines the Android security model's integrity. When permission settings fail to persist properly, the entire permission enforcement system becomes compromised, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system functions, user data, and device capabilities. The resource exhaustion condition that triggers this vulnerability suggests that it may be exploitable through denial-of-service attacks that consume system resources, thereby creating the conditions necessary for the permission persistence failure to occur. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where resource constraints are common or can be artificially induced by malicious actors. Security mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust resource management mechanisms, proper permission persistence checks, and enhanced monitoring of system resource utilization to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.