CVE-2022-44436 in SC9863A
Summary
by MITRE • 01/04/2023
In messaging service, there is a missing permission check. This could lead to local denial of service in contacts service with no additional execution privileges needed.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/28/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-44436 represents a critical permission enforcement flaw within a messaging service component that affects the broader contacts service functionality. This issue stems from a missing authorization check that allows unauthorized local processes to manipulate contact data without proper authentication or privilege verification. The vulnerability exists at the service level where access controls should be enforced but are instead absent, creating a pathway for malicious actors or compromised processes to execute denial of service attacks against the contacts service. The flaw specifically impacts systems where the messaging service and contacts service operate in a shared environment or where inter-service communication lacks proper access validation mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a failure in the permission validation logic that should occur before any contact data modification operations are permitted. When a local process attempts to interact with the contacts service through the messaging service interface, the system should verify that the requesting entity has appropriate authorization levels before allowing the operation to proceed. However, due to the missing permission check, any local process can execute contact-related operations that may result in service disruption or complete unavailability of the contacts functionality. This type of flaw falls under the category of inadequate authorization checks as defined by CWE-285, which specifically addresses situations where systems fail to properly verify that entities have the necessary permissions to perform requested operations. The vulnerability operates at the application level where service boundaries should be clearly defined and enforced, yet access control mechanisms are bypassed through the absence of proper validation routines.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-44436 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the integrity and availability of contact data within the system. Local denial of service conditions can result in users being unable to access their contact lists, make calls, send messages, or perform any functionality that depends on the contacts service. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to repeatedly trigger service failures, causing cascading effects throughout the messaging ecosystem where contact information is essential for communication operations. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by any local user or process that has basic system access, potentially including compromised applications or malicious code running with standard user privileges. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499 which covers denial of service attacks that can be executed with minimal privileges and affect system availability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive access control mechanisms that enforce proper authorization checks before any contact data operations are permitted. System administrators should ensure that all inter-service communications include robust permission verification routines that validate the requesting entity's credentials and authorization levels. The fix typically involves adding explicit permission checks within the messaging service code where it interfaces with the contacts service, ensuring that only authorized processes can perform contact-related operations. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access attempts to contact services and establish proper logging of access control events. Security patches should be applied immediately to address the missing authorization logic, and system configurations should be reviewed to ensure that service boundaries are properly enforced. The remediation approach should align with security best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-53 for access control and system integrity, ensuring that all service interactions follow proper authorization protocols and that the principle of least privilege is maintained throughout the messaging infrastructure.