CVE-2022-20548 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2022
In setParameter of EqualizerEffect.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-13Android ID: A-240919398
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-20548 resides within the EqualizerEffect.cpp component of Android's audio processing framework, specifically in the setParameter function implementation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition, where the system fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions that occur when a program writes data past the end of a buffer or array, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the audio effect processing pipeline. When an application or system component attempts to configure audio equalizer parameters through the setParameter function, the code does not sufficiently verify the boundaries of the input data. This allows an attacker to provide malformed parameter values that exceed the allocated memory boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The flaw specifically affects Android 13 systems and is tracked internally as Android ID A-240919398, indicating its severity and the need for immediate attention.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly concerning as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. This means that any application running with standard user privileges could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated system-level access. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it does not require user interaction, making it an ideal candidate for automated exploitation. The vulnerability's nature allows for code execution within the context of the audio processing service, which typically operates with elevated privileges, thus providing a pathway for attackers to escalate their privileges and gain deeper system control.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" through the use of system vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous audio processing functionality can become a critical attack surface for privilege escalation attacks. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how input validation failures in system-level components can create significant security risks. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this particularly dangerous for mobile environments where applications may have access to audio processing APIs, and the exploitation could occur silently in the background without user awareness.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment from Google, as well as implementing additional runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries. Organizations should also consider monitoring for unusual audio processing API usage patterns and implementing application whitelisting policies for audio-related services. The vulnerability underscores the importance of rigorous input validation in system-level components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of audio processing frameworks, particularly those that operate with elevated privileges in mobile operating systems.