CVE-2022-30757 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
Improper authorization in isemtelephony prior to SMR Jul-2022 Release 1 allows attacker to obtain CID without ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-30757 represents a critical authorization flaw within the isemtelephony component of a mobile telecommunications system. This issue affects versions prior to the SMR July 2022 Release 1 and stems from improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized users to obtain Cell Identification (CID) information without possessing the required ACCESS_FINE_LOCATION permission. The flaw exists in the underlying telephony framework that manages cellular network connectivity and location services, creating a significant security gap in mobile device authorization protocols.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a failure in the permission validation system that should enforce strict access controls for location-related data. When applications or processes attempt to access cellular network identification information, the system should verify that proper location permissions have been granted. However, the isemtelephony component fails to properly validate these permissions, allowing attackers to bypass the normal authorization flow and retrieve CID data that should be restricted to authorized applications with explicit location permissions. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as CID data provides attackers with critical network positioning information that can be leveraged for various malicious activities. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can obtain cellular network identification details without proper authorization, potentially enabling location tracking, network reconnaissance, or even facilitating more sophisticated attacks such as SIM swapping attempts or targeted location-based social engineering. The implications are particularly concerning given that CID information can be used in conjunction with other data sources to create detailed location profiles of individuals or organizations, violating privacy expectations and potentially enabling surveillance operations.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization issues in software systems, and represents a failure in the authorization control mechanisms that should protect sensitive location data. From an attack framework perspective, this issue maps to the privilege escalation and information gathering phases of the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically targeting the collection of system information and privilege escalation techniques. The flaw demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the mobile operating system's permission model and highlights the importance of proper authorization enforcement in telecommunications software components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-30757 require immediate implementation of the vendor-provided security patch released in the SMR July 2022 Release 1, which addresses the authorization validation flaw in the isemtelephony component. Organizations should also implement additional monitoring of location permission usage and network access patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should review and audit existing applications that interact with telephony services to ensure proper permission handling and implement network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. Regular security updates and patch management processes should be reinforced to prevent similar authorization bypass vulnerabilities from emerging in other system components.