CVE-2022-33698 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
Exposure of Sensitive Information in Telecom application prior to SMR Jul-2022 Release 1 allows local attackers to access ICCID via log.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33698 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within telecommunications applications that persisted prior to the July 2022 Security Maintenance Release. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of sensitive telecommunications data within the application's logging mechanisms, creating an avenue for local attackers to extract confidential information. The exposure occurs through the logging subsystem where the Integrated Circuit Card Identifier ICCID is inadvertently written to application logs without proper sanitization or access controls. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege and data protection within the application's security architecture.
The technical flaw manifests when the telecommunications application processes SIM card information and logs this data without proper data masking or access restriction mechanisms. The ICCID serves as a unique identifier for each SIM card and contains sensitive information that can be used for tracking, fraud detection, or identity theft purposes. When this information appears in log files, it becomes accessible to any local user or process with read access to the application's logging directories. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue where attackers with minimal privileges can exploit the logging mechanism to extract sensitive data that should remain protected. This flaw aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and demonstrates poor input validation and output sanitization practices in the application's data handling procedures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential risks for telecommunications operators and their customers. Local attackers who can access these log files gain access to individual SIM card identifiers that can be used for SIM swapping attacks, account takeover attempts, or targeted fraud operations. The exposure of ICCID data in log files compromises the confidentiality of subscriber information and violates industry standards for telecommunications security. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile network operators who rely on proper data protection mechanisms to safeguard customer identity information, as the ICCID is integral to the authentication and identification processes within mobile networks. The risk is amplified when considering that these logs may be stored on systems with inadequate access controls or may be accessible through compromised accounts with local privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-33698 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. Organizations should implement proper log sanitization procedures that automatically mask or redact sensitive information including ICCID numbers before writing to log files. The application should be updated to the July 2022 Security Maintenance Release or equivalent patch that addresses this specific logging vulnerability. Access controls on log directories should be strictly enforced using discretionary access controls and role-based access mechanisms to ensure only authorized personnel can access sensitive log data. Additionally, organizations should implement log monitoring and alerting systems that can detect unauthorized access attempts to sensitive log files. The solution should incorporate principles from the ATT&CK framework under T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host, as proper log sanitization prevents attackers from using compromised log files to gather intelligence. Regular security audits should be conducted to ensure that logging practices do not inadvertently expose sensitive telecommunications data, with particular attention to compliance with telecommunications industry standards such as those defined by 3GPP and ITU-T for subscriber data protection.