CVE-2022-38677 in SC9863A
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2022
In cell service, there is a missing permission check. This could lead to local denial of service in cell service with no additional execution privileges needed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-38677 resides within the cell service component of Android operating systems, representing a critical permission check failure that undermines the security model of the platform. This issue affects the cellular communication subsystem and demonstrates how insufficient access controls can create pathways for unauthorized system manipulation. The vulnerability stems from a missing permission verification mechanism that should normally prevent unauthorized processes from accessing sensitive cellular service functions. According to CWE-284, this represents a weakness in authorization where improper access control allows entities to perform actions they should not be permitted to execute, specifically within the cellular service context where such access could have significant operational implications.
The technical flaw manifests when the cell service component fails to validate whether incoming requests originate from properly authorized processes or users. This missing permission check creates a condition where any local process can potentially trigger cellular service operations that should be restricted to system-level components or privileged applications. The vulnerability does not require additional execution privileges or root access to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any application running on the device. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques, though in this case the exploitation occurs through a lack of proper authorization rather than traditional privilege escalation methods.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it could enable malicious actors to disrupt cellular connectivity, interfere with emergency services, or potentially manipulate cellular network parameters. Local denial of service conditions can severely impact device functionality, particularly in scenarios where cellular communication is critical for device operation or emergency response systems. The absence of additional execution privileges required for exploitation means that even standard applications could potentially trigger these service disruptions, amplifying the threat surface significantly. This vulnerability particularly affects devices where cellular services are integral to core functionality, potentially rendering them unusable for critical communication purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-38677 should focus on implementing proper permission validation mechanisms within the cell service component. System administrators and device manufacturers should ensure that all cellular service operations require appropriate authorization checks before execution, adhering to the principle of least privilege. The fix should involve adding comprehensive permission verification before any cellular service operations are initiated, ensuring that only properly authenticated and authorized processes can access these functions. Regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar permission check gaps in other system components, as this type of vulnerability often indicates broader architectural weaknesses in access control implementation. Updates to the Android operating system should be applied promptly to address this vulnerability, as it represents a fundamental breach in the security model that could be exploited to create more severe disruptions.