CVE-2022-20138 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about the CVE-2022-20138 vulnerability affecting Android devices, allowing local privilege escalation without user interaction. Find out about impacted versions and mitigation steps.
This article provides an overview of CVE-2022-20138, a vulnerability impacting Android devices that could lead to a local privilege escalation.
Understanding CVE-2022-20138
This section delves into the details of the CVE-2022-20138 vulnerability affecting Android devices.
What is CVE-2022-20138?
CVE-2022-20138 is a vulnerability found in DevicePolicyManagerService.java, allowing an unprivileged app to send MANAGED_PROFILE_PROVISIONED intent without proper permission checks. This flaw could result in a local privilege escalation without needing additional execution privileges.
The Impact of CVE-2022-20138
The impact of this vulnerability is significant as it could potentially allow malicious actors to escalate their privileges on affected Android devices without requiring user interaction.
Technical Details of CVE-2022-20138
This section provides technical insights into the CVE-2022-20138 vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises due to a missing permission check in ACTION_MANAGED_PROFILE_PROVISIONED of DevicePolicyManagerService.java, enabling unprivileged apps to exploit the flaw.
Affected Systems and Versions
Android versions Android-10, Android-11, Android-12, and Android-12L are affected by this vulnerability.
Exploitation Mechanism
An unprivileged app can exploit this vulnerability to send MANAGED_PROFILE_PROVISIONED intent, leading to a local escalation of privilege on the affected Android devices.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section outlines steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2022-20138.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users are advised to apply patches or updates provided by Android to address this vulnerability immediately.
Long-Term Security Practices
Maintaining up-to-date security practices, avoiding untrusted apps, and exercising caution while granting permissions can help prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Regularly updating Android devices with the latest security patches is crucial to protect against CVE-2022-20138 and similar vulnerabilities.