CVE-2022-42544 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/16/2022
In getView of AddAppNetworksFragment.java, there is a possible way to mislead the user about network add requests due to improper input validation. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-13Android ID: A-224545390
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-42544 resides within the Android operating system's AddAppNetworksFragment.java component, specifically in the getView method implementation. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that allows for potential privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify network add requests, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate the system's behavior.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in how the getView method processes network configuration inputs within the AddAppNetworksFragment class. When users attempt to add network configurations, the system fails to adequately validate the incoming data parameters, allowing for potentially malicious input to bypass security checks. This improper validation creates a pathway where unauthorized network modifications can be silently processed, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges locally. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the Android framework, specifically affecting the network management subsystem that handles user requests for adding new network connections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Android device security as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring user interaction or additional execution privileges. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it can be exploited silently, meaning users remain unaware of the privilege escalation occurring in the background. The vulnerability affects Android 13 systems and is identified by Android ID A-224545390, indicating it was discovered and tracked within Google's internal vulnerability management system. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the integrity of the Android security model and could allow attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected devices.
The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as this vulnerability could potentially enable broader system compromise. Attackers could leverage the privilege escalation capabilities to access sensitive system resources, modify critical configurations, or install malicious software. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation issues, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence. Organizations and users should be particularly concerned about this vulnerability as it represents an automated attack surface that doesn't require user engagement, making it particularly dangerous in environments where security monitoring is limited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-42544 should focus on immediate system updates and patch management procedures. Android users should ensure their devices receive the latest security updates from their device manufacturers, as Google would have likely released a patch addressing this specific validation flaw. System administrators should implement monitoring protocols to detect unusual network configuration changes that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in security-critical components and underscores the need for comprehensive testing of network management interfaces. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and network segmentation to limit potential exploitation impact.