CVE-2022-39898 in Smart Phone
Summary
by MITRE • 12/08/2022
Improper access control vulnerability in IIccPhoneBook prior to SMR Dec-2022 Release 1 allows attackers to access some information of usim.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2022-39898 represents a critical improper access control flaw within the IIccPhoneBook component of mobile device firmware prior to the December 2022 Security Maintenance Release. This issue affects telecommunications equipment that implements USIM (Universal Subscriber Identity Module) card functionality, where the IIccPhoneBook interface is responsible for managing phone book entries stored on the USIM card. The vulnerability stems from inadequate authorization checks within the phone book access mechanisms, allowing unauthorized entities to bypass normal security controls and retrieve sensitive information stored on the USIM card.
The technical implementation flaw resides in the IIccPhoneBook component's failure to properly validate access permissions before exposing phone book data. This weakness manifests when the system does not adequately authenticate or authorize requests attempting to access USIM phone book entries, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the interface without proper credentials or privileges. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running firmware versions prior to the December 2022 security update, indicating that the flaw was introduced in earlier code releases and remained unpatched for an extended period. This access control failure enables attackers to extract personal information including phone numbers, names, and potentially other sensitive data stored within the USIM phone book, which could be used for social engineering attacks, identity theft, or further targeting of users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it compromises the fundamental security model of mobile device SIM card management. Attackers leveraging this flaw can potentially gather detailed contact information of device users, which may include business contacts, family members, or other individuals with whom the user maintains communication relationships. This information can be particularly valuable for phishing campaigns, where attackers use the collected data to craft convincing social engineering attacks targeting specific individuals. The vulnerability also represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where mobile devices may contain sensitive corporate information, as the USIM phone book could contain contact details for colleagues, business partners, or clients. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's technique T1552.001 (Credentials in Files) and T1087.001 (Account Discovery), as it allows unauthorized access to stored credentials and user account information through improper access control mechanisms.
Security mitigations for CVE-2022-39898 require immediate implementation of the December 2022 Security Maintenance Release, which includes proper access control enforcement within the IIccPhoneBook interface. Organizations should conduct comprehensive firmware updates across all affected devices and implement network monitoring to detect unauthorized access attempts to SIM card interfaces. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) as it represents a failure in access control mechanisms that allows unauthorized data access. Device manufacturers should implement additional verification checks for all USIM interface access requests, ensuring that proper authentication and authorization processes are enforced before any data retrieval operations. Regular security assessments of mobile device components should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses in other system interfaces, particularly those managing sensitive user data stored on removable security modules.