CVE-2022-20480 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/13/2022
In NotificationChannel of NotificationChannel.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-241764350
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20480 resides within the NotificationChannel implementation in Android's system framework, specifically within the NotificationChannel.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 through Android 13, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The issue manifests when the system encounters resource constraints during permission setting operations, leading to potential failure in persisting critical permission configurations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the notification channel permission management subsystem where resource exhaustion conditions prevent proper persistence of permission settings. When system resources become constrained, the notification channel component fails to maintain the intended permission states, creating potential security gaps in the Android permission model. This failure occurs during the normal operation of notification channel configuration processes, where the system should reliably store permission settings but instead allows for potential corruption or loss of these critical security parameters. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-404 as an improper resource management issue, specifically involving resource exhaustion leading to security state corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain elevated privileges on affected Android devices, potentially allowing them to access sensitive system resources, modify critical system components, or perform actions that should be restricted to higher-privileged processes. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user awareness or consent. This represents a direct violation of Android's security model where permission boundaries should be strictly maintained regardless of system resource conditions.
The exploitability of CVE-2022-20480 aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through system weaknesses. The vulnerability operates at the system level where resource exhaustion triggers improper permission handling, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate the permission state of notification channels. This allows for potential escalation to higher privilege levels within the Android security context, particularly affecting components that rely on notification channel permissions for proper operation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple notification handling to potentially compromise the entire Android security framework's permission enforcement mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust resource management practices within the notification channel subsystem and ensuring proper error handling during resource exhaustion scenarios. Android device manufacturers should prioritize patching affected versions with proper resource management fixes that guarantee permission persistence even under adverse conditions. System administrators and security teams should monitor for any unauthorized changes to notification channel permissions and implement additional security controls to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix should address the core resource exhaustion handling within the NotificationChannel.java implementation to ensure that permission settings are reliably persisted regardless of system resource constraints, effectively preventing the local privilege escalation pathway that this vulnerability presents.