CVE-2023-20912 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 01/26/2023
In onActivityResult of AvatarPickerActivity.java, there is a possible way to access images belonging to other users due to a missing permission check. 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-246301995
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-20912 represents a critical security flaw in Android's permission handling mechanisms within the AvatarPickerActivity component. This issue stems from a missing permission check in the onActivityResult method of the AvatarPickerActivity.java file, creating a pathway for unauthorized access to user data. The flaw specifically affects Android 13 systems and is tracked under Android ID A-246301995, demonstrating the severity and scope of the vulnerability within the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability exists at the application level where proper access controls fail to validate user permissions during image selection processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. This means that an attacker with access to the device can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to images belonging to other users within the same application context. The missing permission check in the onActivityResult method creates a direct pathway where the application fails to verify whether the requesting user has proper authorization to access the selected image data. This flaw operates at the intersection of improper access control and privilege escalation, where the application assumes that any image selection request should be granted access without proper verification of user credentials or permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables unauthorized users to potentially access sensitive personal information stored in image format. This could include private photos, documents, or other media content that users expect to be protected by standard Android permission models. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require any special privileges beyond having access to the affected application, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple users share the same device or where applications handle sensitive user data. The lack of user interaction requirement for exploitation means that automated attacks could potentially be developed to systematically harvest user data without detection.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability's alignment with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues, and its potential mapping to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the exploitation of legitimate credentials and privileges. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation issue indicates that it operates within the confines of the device's operating system rather than requiring network-based exploitation. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including code reviews to ensure proper permission checking in all onActivityResult implementations, particularly those involving user data access. The recommended approach involves adding comprehensive permission validation checks that verify user credentials and authorization levels before granting access to sensitive data, thereby preventing unauthorized access to other users' media content.