CVE-2022-39884 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2022
Improper access control vulnerability in IImsService prior to SMR Nov-2022 Release 1 allows local attacker to access to Call information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/07/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-39884 represents a critical improper access control flaw within the IImsService component of Android systems prior to the November 2022 Security Model Release. This vulnerability specifically affects devices running Android versions where the IImsService interface lacks proper authorization checks, creating a pathway for local attackers to exploit system resources. The issue resides in the telephony subsystem's IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) service implementation, which governs VoIP and advanced calling features including emergency services and video calling capabilities. The flaw manifests when the system fails to validate the identity and privileges of processes attempting to access call-related information through the IImsService interface.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the IMS service framework. When local applications or processes attempt to query or manipulate call information through the IImsService API, the system does not adequately verify whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary permissions to access such sensitive data. This weakness enables malicious local processes to bypass normal access controls and retrieve confidential call details, including call logs, participant information, and potentially even real-time communication metadata. The vulnerability is classified as a local privilege escalation issue under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control where insufficient authorization checks allow unauthorized access to protected resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as call information often contains highly sensitive personal data including communication patterns, contact relationships, and location information derived from call timing and frequency. Attackers could leverage this access to build detailed profiles of user behavior, potentially enabling social engineering attacks, surveillance operations, or identity theft. The vulnerability affects the core telephony functionality of Android devices, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by malware or compromised applications that have already gained local execution privileges. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where mobile devices may contain sensitive corporate communications and personal data that could be accessed by malicious actors with local system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-39884 primarily involve applying the November 2022 Security Patch Release which includes updated IMS service implementations with proper access control mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the SMR Nov-2022 updates across all affected devices, particularly those in high-security environments or containing sensitive data. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to telephony services and establish baseline behavioral patterns for normal call information access. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for process injection and T1566 for social engineering, as attackers could use the retrieved information to craft more convincing phishing campaigns or impersonation attacks. Device manufacturers and security teams should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as SELinux policy enforcement and application sandboxing to further limit the potential impact of such access control failures.