CVE-2022-24930 in Wear OS
Summary
by MITRE • 03/10/2022
An Improper access control vulnerability in StRetailModeReceiver in Wear OS 3.0 prior to Firmware update MAR-2022 Release allows untrusted applications to reset default app settings without a proper permission
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-24930 represents a critical access control flaw within the Wear OS 3.0 operating system architecture specifically affecting the StRetailModeReceiver component. This issue resides in the Android-based wearable platform's permission model where untrusted applications can exploit a design weakness to manipulate core system settings. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of application privileges during the reset default app settings operation, creating an unauthorized access vector that bypasses normal security boundaries. The flaw affects all Wear OS 3.0 devices prior to the MAR-2022 firmware release, leaving millions of wearable devices exposed to potential malicious exploitation. This represents a significant compromise in the system's integrity as it allows arbitrary applications to modify fundamental user configuration parameters that should only be accessible through proper authorization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the StRetailModeReceiver component which is designed to handle retail mode operations but fails to properly validate incoming requests for default app setting resets. The flaw manifests when untrusted applications can invoke the receiver without proper authentication or authorization checks, effectively allowing them to execute privileged operations. This improper access control vulnerability maps directly to CWE-284 which defines inadequate access control mechanisms in software systems. The vulnerability exploits the trust model within the Wear OS environment where applications that should be restricted from performing system-level operations can bypass security controls through malformed or unauthorized API calls. The receiver component lacks proper signature verification or user consent mechanisms that would normally prevent such unauthorized modifications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes and creates potential security risks for wearable device users. An attacker could leverage this flaw to redirect user traffic through malicious applications, potentially leading to data exfiltration or man-in-the-middle attacks on connected devices. The ability to reset default app settings could be used to persistently install malicious applications or disable security features that protect user privacy. This vulnerability particularly affects the device's overall security posture by undermining the principle of least privilege that should govern all system operations. From an attacker's perspective, this represents a low-effort, high-impact vector that requires no special privileges or device rooting to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-24930 focus primarily on applying the vendor-provided firmware update released in the MAR-2022 cycle which addresses the improper access control implementation. Users should immediately update their Wear OS devices to the latest firmware version to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators and security teams should monitor for any unauthorized applications that may attempt to exploit this vulnerability and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted software. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission model implementation in mobile operating systems and reinforces the need for regular security updates. Organizations deploying wearable devices should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify devices running vulnerable firmware versions and establish remediation schedules. This vulnerability also underscores the necessity of implementing runtime application security controls that can detect and prevent unauthorized access attempts to system-level components. The remediation process should include verification that the update was successfully applied and that the StRetailModeReceiver component now properly validates all incoming requests for default app setting modifications.