CVE-2022-20541 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2022
In phNxpNciHal_ioctl of phNxpNciHal.cc, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-13Android ID: A-238083126
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20541 resides within the phNxpNciHal_ioctl function in the phNxpNciHal.cc source file of Android's NFC hardware abstraction layer implementation. This issue represents a classic out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the system fails to validate input parameters before processing them, creating a potential attack vector for information disclosure. The flaw specifically manifests in the NFC driver component responsible for handling ioctl (input/output control) system calls that facilitate communication between user-space applications and the kernel-level NFC hardware driver.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the ioctl handler implementation, where the system processes user-supplied data without proper validation of array indices or buffer limits. When an attacker provides malicious input parameters to the ioctl function, the code attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive kernel memory contents to unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking in software implementations. The out-of-bounds read condition allows for information disclosure because the memory access pattern may inadvertently reveal kernel memory contents including sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, system credentials, or other confidential information stored in adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability requires specific conditions for exploitation, including local system access and the ability to execute code with system privileges. An attacker must first gain local access to the device and then leverage the vulnerable ioctl interface to trigger the out-of-bounds read condition. The requirement for system execution privileges indicates that this vulnerability cannot be exploited remotely but rather requires physical or local access to the target device. The attack vector involves crafting malicious ioctl calls that manipulate the input parameters to cause the driver to read beyond its intended memory boundaries, potentially exposing confidential information that could be used for further attacks or system compromise.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves the use of system services and APIs to gain access to system resources, and T1005, which focuses on data from local system storage. The exploitation process would likely involve an attacker with local system access creating a malicious application that invokes the vulnerable ioctl interface with carefully crafted parameters designed to trigger the memory access violation. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability could potentially expose sensitive system data that might aid in privilege escalation or other advanced attack scenarios, making it particularly concerning for mobile device security.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2022-20541 primarily involves implementing proper bounds checking within the ioctl handler implementation to validate all input parameters before processing. This includes adding boundary validation checks to ensure that array indices and buffer sizes remain within expected limits, thereby preventing the out-of-bounds memory access that leads to information disclosure. Android security patches for this vulnerability would typically involve modifying the phNxpNciHal.cc file to include comprehensive input validation routines that verify the legitimacy of all parameters passed to the ioctl function. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the relevant security updates from Android security bulletins to address this vulnerability. Additionally, runtime monitoring and input validation mechanisms should be strengthened to prevent similar issues in other components of the NFC subsystem and broader Android hardware abstraction layers, as this represents a pattern of insufficient bounds checking that may exist in other driver components.