CVE-2022-27500 in Support App
Summary
by MITRE • 08/19/2022
Incorrect default permissions for the Intel(R) Support Android application before 21.07.40 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable information disclosure via local access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-27500 affects the Intel(R) Support Android application and represents a significant security flaw related to improper default permissions configuration. This issue exists in versions prior to 21.07.40 and creates a pathway for authenticated users to potentially exploit local access mechanisms to disclose sensitive information. The vulnerability stems from the application's failure to implement appropriate access controls and permission boundaries during its default installation process, which creates an attack surface that malicious actors can leverage to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the application's default permission model which does not properly restrict access to sensitive data or system resources. When the Intel Support Android application is installed without proper configuration, it may grant excessive permissions to local system components that should remain restricted to authorized processes only. This misconfiguration allows an authenticated user who has already gained access to the device to potentially exploit the application's weak permission boundaries to access information that should be protected. The flaw operates at the system-level access control mechanism where proper privilege separation is not maintained between application components and underlying system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for users who have legitimate access to devices running affected versions of the Intel Support application. The information disclosure potential could expose sensitive system data, configuration details, or user information that could be leveraged for further attacks. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the device's configuration, installed applications, or system state, which could then be used to plan more sophisticated attacks or to pivot to other systems within a network. The local access requirement means that the attacker must already have some level of authentication on the device, but this represents a privilege escalation from the baseline security posture.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which specifically addresses improper permissions and access control mechanisms. This classification reflects the core issue where the application fails to properly enforce access controls, allowing unauthorized information disclosure through local system access. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with local privilege escalation techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1068 category for local privilege escalation and T1083 for file and directory discovery. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader security posture assessment, particularly in environments where mobile devices are used for sensitive operations or contain classified information.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Intel Support Android application version 21.07.40 or later, which includes proper default permission configurations that restrict access to sensitive system resources. System administrators should also conduct thorough inventory checks to identify all devices running vulnerable versions and ensure timely deployment of patches. Additional protective measures include implementing mobile device management policies that enforce proper application permissions and conducting regular security assessments to identify similar permission misconfigurations in other applications. Organizations should also consider network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and implement appropriate access controls to limit local user privileges where possible.