CVE-2022-22291 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 02/11/2022
Logging of excessive data vulnerability in telephony prior to SMR Feb-2022 Release 1 allows privileged attackers to get Cell Location Information through log of user device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2022
This vulnerability exists in telephony systems prior to the SMR February 2022 release where excessive logging practices create security risks through the inadvertent exposure of sensitive location data. The flaw represents a critical issue in how mobile device systems handle logging operations, particularly when privileged attackers gain access to system logs that contain cell location information. The vulnerability stems from improper data handling within the telephony subsystem where user device location data becomes embedded in system logs without adequate sanitization or access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the logging mechanism that captures detailed cell tower information as part of normal telephony operations. When privileged attackers can access these logs, they gain access to Cell Location Information that includes precise geographical coordinates and cell tower identifiers. This occurs because the logging process does not adequately distinguish between system operational data and sensitive user location information, creating a data exposure scenario that violates standard privacy protections. The flaw demonstrates poor separation of concerns in system design where operational logging practices inadvertently expose user privacy data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows attackers to reconstruct user movement patterns and location histories through analysis of the logged data. The exposure of cell location information enables location-based attacks, tracking capabilities, and privacy violations that can affect millions of users. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects systems prior to the February 2022 security update, meaning that organizations with older telephony infrastructure remain at risk. This represents a significant compliance issue under privacy regulations such as gdpr and ccpa where unauthorized access to location data can result in substantial penalties.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and CWE-312 (Sensitive Data Exposure) categories, where improper handling of sensitive information leads to unauthorized access. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when attackers use the location data for social engineering or network reconnaissance. The exposure of cell location information through logging represents a classic case of insufficient data classification and access control mechanisms within telephony systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate implementation of log sanitization procedures that remove or obfuscate location data from system logs, enforcement of principle of least privilege for log access, and deployment of automated monitoring systems to detect unauthorized log access attempts. Organizations should also implement data loss prevention controls specifically targeting location information and ensure that all telephony systems are updated to the February 2022 security release or later. Additionally, regular security audits of logging practices and access controls should be conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that location data is properly filtered from logs while maintaining system operational integrity.