CVE-2022-22263 in SecSettings
Summary
by MITRE • 01/10/2022
Unprotected dynamic receiver in SecSettings prior to SMR Jan-2022 Release 1 allows untrusted applications to launch arbitrary activity.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-22263 represents a critical security flaw in the Android system's SecSettings component that existed prior to the SMR January 2022 release. This issue stems from an unprotected dynamic receiver configuration that permits untrusted applications to initiate arbitrary activities within the system. The vulnerability specifically affects the security settings application's handling of intent receivers, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the lack of proper access controls to execute unauthorized operations.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper validation and protection of dynamic intent receivers within the SecSettings framework. Dynamic receivers in Android are components that can be registered at runtime rather than being statically declared in the manifest file. When these receivers lack proper security restrictions, they become vulnerable to exploitation by any application that can send intents to them. The vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious intents that target the unprotected receiver, thereby enabling them to launch activities that should normally be restricted to system-level or privileged applications. This weakness directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the Android security model's integrity.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary activities within the system context. An attacker could potentially launch system activities that reveal sensitive information, modify system settings, or even initiate malicious operations that could compromise the device's security posture. The ability to launch arbitrary activities means that threat actors could potentially access sensitive system functions, manipulate security configurations, or even create persistent backdoors on affected devices. This vulnerability particularly impacts devices running Android versions prior to the January 2022 security patch, leaving millions of users exposed to potential exploitation. The attack vector is relatively straightforward as it only requires an untrusted application to be installed on the device, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might inadvertently install malicious software.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-284 which describes improper access control in software systems, specifically highlighting the lack of proper authorization checks on dynamic components. The attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation and improper access control in system-level components can lead to privilege escalation attacks. Mitigation strategies should include applying the January 2022 security patches that properly restrict access to dynamic receivers in SecSettings, implementing proper intent receiver validation, and ensuring that all system components properly enforce access controls. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can detect and prevent the installation of potentially malicious applications that might exploit this vulnerability. The fix typically involves adding proper permission checks and ensuring that dynamic receivers only accept intents from trusted sources or within properly constrained contexts.