CVE-2024-20883 in Samsung
Summary
by MITRE • 06/04/2024
Incorrect use of privileged API vulnerability in registerBatteryStatsCallback in BatteryStatsService prior to SMR Jun-2024 Release 1 allows local attackers to use privileged API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-20883 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Android operating system's battery statistics service component. This issue affects devices running Android versions prior to the SMR Jun-2024 Release 1 security patch, creating a significant attack surface for local adversaries who can exploit improper handling of privileged application programming interfaces. The vulnerability specifically resides in the registerBatteryStatsCallback method of the BatteryStatsService, which is responsible for managing battery usage statistics and related system monitoring functions.
The technical flaw manifests from an incorrect implementation of privileged API usage within the battery statistics service, where the system fails to properly validate or authenticate the privileges of callers attempting to register battery statistics callbacks. This improper privilege validation allows malicious applications with standard user permissions to potentially access and manipulate privileged system functions that should only be available to system-level components or applications with elevated privileges. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-276 category of Incorrect Access Control, specifically relating to improper privileges for critical resources within the Android framework. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute unauthorized operations that would normally require system-level permissions, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that protect sensitive system functionality.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local attackers to gain unauthorized access to battery statistics data and potentially manipulate system behavior related to power management and monitoring. The attack surface extends beyond simple data access to include potential system integrity compromise, as battery statistics are often used for device optimization, power consumption monitoring, and various system-level decisions. An attacker could potentially use this privilege escalation to monitor battery usage patterns of other applications, manipulate power consumption data, or even interfere with device power management policies. This capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers privilege escalation through the use of system services, and represents a significant threat to device security and user privacy.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include applying the SMR Jun-2024 Release 1 security patches immediately, which contain the necessary fixes for the improper privilege validation in BatteryStatsService. Organizations should also implement application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can access battery statistics APIs, and conduct thorough security assessments of existing applications that may be leveraging these APIs. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unusual battery usage patterns or unauthorized access attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper privilege checking mechanisms within the registerBatteryStatsCallback method, ensuring that only authorized system components or applications with appropriate permissions can register battery statistics callbacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege management in mobile operating systems and highlights the potential risks associated with insufficient access controls in system-level services.