CVE-2022-25833 in ImsService
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
Improper authentication in ImsService prior to SMR Apr-2022 Release 1 allows attackers to get IMSI without READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE permission.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-25833 represents a critical authentication flaw within the ImsService component of Android systems, specifically affecting devices prior to the April 2022 Security Model Release. This weakness resides in the improper handling of authentication mechanisms within the IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) service, which is responsible for managing voice and video calls over IP networks. The vulnerability allows unauthorized attackers to obtain sensitive IMSI (International Mobile Subscriber Identity) information without possessing the required READ_PRIVILEGED_PHONE_STATE permission, which is typically restricted to system-level applications and privileged components.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate validation of caller credentials within the ImsService interface, creating an authentication bypass condition that enables malicious actors to exploit the service without proper authorization. This occurs due to insufficient checks on the calling application's permissions and identity verification processes, allowing any application with basic phone access to potentially query and retrieve IMSI data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at a system level within the telephony framework, where the IMSI serves as a critical identifier for tracking mobile subscribers and their communication patterns. The flaw is categorized under CWE-287, which addresses improper authentication issues, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1069.001 for permission groups and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this weakness to escalate privileges and access sensitive telecommunications data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as IMSI data provides attackers with fundamental subscriber identification information that can be used for various malicious activities including location tracking, social engineering attacks, and targeted surveillance operations. The vulnerability affects the core telephony infrastructure of affected Android devices, potentially compromising the privacy and security of millions of users who rely on cellular networks for communication. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform unauthorized IMSI collection without requiring elevated privileges, making the attack surface significantly broader than traditional permission-based exploits. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Android versions prior to the April 2022 security patch demonstrates the long-standing nature of the authentication flaw within the ImsService implementation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-25833 focus primarily on applying the April 2022 Security Model Release patches provided by Google and device manufacturers, which address the authentication bypass mechanism within the ImsService component. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected Android devices within their networks. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous IMSI collection patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any custom applications or services that might be leveraging similar authentication bypass mechanisms. The remediation process should also include reviewing and hardening the telephony service interfaces to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive subscriber data, with particular attention to the permission model enforcement within the Android framework. Implementation of these mitigations aligns with security frameworks such as NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 requirements for secure authentication and access control mechanisms.