CVE-2022-33705 in Calendar
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2022
Information exposure in Calendar prior to version 12.3.05.10000 allows attacker to access calendar schedule without READ_CALENDAR permission.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-33705 represents a critical information exposure flaw within the Calendar application affecting versions prior to 12.3.05.10000. This weakness stems from insufficient access controls that permit unauthorized users to retrieve calendar scheduling information without possessing the required READ_CALENDAR permission. The vulnerability manifests as a failure in the application's authorization mechanisms, where the system does not properly validate user credentials or permissions before granting access to calendar data. This represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where users can access resources beyond their designated access levels. The flaw exists at the application logic level where calendar data retrieval functions do not adequately enforce permission checks, potentially allowing attackers to exploit this vulnerability through various attack vectors including direct API calls or application interface manipulation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control scenarios, specifically targeting the calendar scheduling component that should enforce strict permission boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a missing authorization check within the calendar data access routines. When calendar events or scheduling information is requested by an application or user interface component, the system fails to validate whether the requesting entity possesses the appropriate READ_CALENDAR permission before returning the data. This creates a scenario where an attacker with access to the calendar application interface or API endpoints can bypass normal permission controls and retrieve sensitive scheduling information including event details, time slots, attendee lists, and other calendar data that should be restricted to authorized users only. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because calendar data often contains sensitive personal and professional information that could be exploited for social engineering, privacy violations, or targeted attacks. The flaw exists in the application's security model where it relies on implicit trust rather than explicit permission verification, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that violates standard security practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-33705 extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass significant privacy and security risks for organizations and individuals using the affected calendar application. Unauthorized access to calendar scheduling information could enable attackers to gather intelligence about user availability, meeting patterns, and organizational structures that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability directly enables information disclosure attacks as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under T1005, where adversaries collect data from the target environment. The exposure of calendar data may also facilitate credential harvesting, as attackers could identify users who are frequently scheduled for meetings with specific individuals or systems, potentially leading to targeted phishing campaigns or lateral movement within network environments. Organizations may face compliance violations under privacy regulations such as gdpr or hipaa if calendar data containing personal information is exposed without proper authorization, creating both legal and reputational risks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-33705 should prioritize immediate patching of affected calendar applications to version 12.3.05.10000 or later, which contains the necessary permission validation fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive access control reviews to ensure that calendar permissions are properly configured and that users cannot access calendar data beyond their authorized scope. Network segmentation and application firewalls should be deployed to limit access to calendar APIs and interfaces to only trusted users and systems. Additionally, organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their calendar applications to identify similar permission bypass vulnerabilities and implement proper logging and monitoring of calendar access attempts. The fix should include robust permission validation mechanisms that enforce explicit authorization checks before any calendar data is returned, ensuring that all access requests are properly authenticated and authorized according to established security policies and standards. Regular security training for users should also emphasize the importance of proper calendar sharing settings and access controls to prevent accidental exposure of sensitive scheduling information.