CVE-2022-36830 in Charm
Summary
by MITRE • 08/05/2022
PendingIntent hijacking vulnerability in cancelAlarmManager in Charm by Samsung prior to version 1.2.3 allows local attackers to access files without permission via implicit intent.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/31/2022
The CVE-2022-36830 vulnerability represents a critical PendingIntent hijacking flaw discovered in the Charm by Samsung application prior to version 1.2.3. This vulnerability resides within the cancelAlarmManager method implementation and constitutes a significant security weakness that enables local attackers to execute unauthorized file access operations. The flaw exploits the improper handling of implicit intents within the Android application framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the application's intended behavior through carefully crafted intent broadcasts. The vulnerability specifically targets the PendingIntent mechanism which is fundamental to Android's inter-process communication and task scheduling capabilities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and sanitization of intent parameters within the cancelAlarmManager function. When the application processes alarm cancellation requests, it fails to properly verify the source and integrity of incoming intents, allowing attackers to craft malicious implicit intents that can hijack the PendingIntent execution flow. This misconfiguration creates a privilege escalation vector where local malicious applications or compromised components can impersonate legitimate system processes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-829 which addresses the inclusion of untrusted input in security decisions, and specifically relates to CWE-295 which covers improper certificate validation in mobile applications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 for locally executed code and T1548.001 for abuse of system permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-36830 extends beyond simple unauthorized file access to encompass potential data exfiltration and system compromise scenarios. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to read sensitive files, modify application data, or potentially escalate privileges within the application's security context. The local nature of this attack means that exploitation requires only device-level access, making it particularly dangerous in environments where device security is paramount. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of the Charm application by allowing unauthorized access to resources that should remain protected. This flaw particularly impacts user privacy and data confidentiality, as it enables attackers to access application data without proper authentication or authorization mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application updates to version 1.2.3 or later where the PendingIntent handling has been properly secured. Organizations should implement comprehensive security auditing of all PendingIntent usage within their applications, ensuring proper intent validation and explicit intent usage instead of relying on implicit intents where possible. The fix typically involves implementing proper PendingIntent flags such as FLAG_IMMUTABLE or FLAG_MUTABLE depending on Android version requirements, along with thorough input validation of all intent parameters. Security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring for suspicious PendingIntent behavior and establish proper application sandboxing practices. Additionally, developers should follow Android security best practices including the use of explicit intents, proper permission checking, and implementing robust intent verification mechanisms. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper intent handling in Android applications and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in mobile environments.