CVE-2022-21157 in Smart Campus
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2022
Improper access control in the Intel(R) Smart Campus Android application before version 6.1 may allow authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-21157 represents a critical access control flaw within the Intel(R) Smart Campus Android application ecosystem. This issue affects versions prior to 6.1 and demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the application's authorization mechanisms that could be exploited by authenticated users to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. The vulnerability exists within the mobile application framework that serves campus infrastructure management and monitoring functions, making it particularly concerning for educational and corporate environments that rely on secure data handling.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of user permissions and access controls within the application's local data access mechanisms. Specifically, the flaw allows authenticated users to bypass normal access restrictions that should prevent them from accessing restricted data sets or system resources. This improper access control condition aligns with CWE-284 which defines improper access control as a weakness where the application fails to properly enforce access restrictions. The vulnerability manifests when the application does not adequately verify whether an authenticated user should have access to specific data or functionality, creating a path for information disclosure through local access vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it undermines the fundamental security posture of the Intel Smart Campus platform. An authenticated user could potentially access sensitive information related to campus infrastructure, user data, system configurations, or operational details that should remain restricted. This information disclosure could enable further attacks including privilege escalation, lateral movement within the network, or the development of more sophisticated exploits against other systems. The local access vector means that exploitation does not require network connectivity or external attack surfaces, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where physical access to devices is possible.
Organizations using the affected Intel Smart Campus application should prioritize immediate remediation through the deployment of version 6.1 or later, which contains the necessary access control fixes. Security teams should conduct thorough assessments of their current deployment to identify any devices running vulnerable versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of implementing robust access control mechanisms within mobile applications, particularly those handling sensitive infrastructure data. Additionally, organizations should review their network segmentation and access control policies to minimize the potential impact of such local access vulnerabilities. This issue highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing including access control validation, and aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, emphasizing the need for defense in depth strategies to protect critical infrastructure applications.