CVE-2022-20450 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the Android operating system, specifically Android 10 through Android 13, including Android 12L. The vulnerability exists in the restorePermissionState method of the PermissionManagerServiceImpl.java component. Due to a missing permission check, an attacker with local access can bypass user consent mechanisms, enabling privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. This flaw is classified under CWE-862, which relates to missing authorization checks. The vulnerability allows an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to gain higher privileges on the device, potentially leading to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity, with attack vector being local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), privileges required (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the permissions involved. Since Android is widely used in mobile devices, this vulnerability could be leveraged by malicious applications or local attackers to escalate privileges and perform unauthorized actions on affected devices.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-20450 can be substantial, especially for those relying heavily on Android devices for business operations, including mobile workforce management, secure communications, and access to corporate resources. The vulnerability enables local attackers or malicious apps to escalate privileges without user consent, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, manipulation, or disruption of services. This could result in data breaches involving sensitive corporate or personal information, undermining compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations. Additionally, compromised devices could serve as entry points for lateral movement within corporate networks, increasing the risk of broader cyberattacks. The lack of requirement for user interaction further increases the risk, as exploitation can occur stealthily. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure, which often use Android devices for secure communications and operations, are particularly at risk. The vulnerability also threatens the integrity of mobile device management (MDM) solutions and endpoint security controls that rely on Android's permission model.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-20450, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Ensure all Android devices are updated promptly with the latest security patches provided by device manufacturers or Google, as this vulnerability requires patching at the OS level. 2) Enforce strict application vetting policies, restricting installation of apps from untrusted sources to minimize the risk of malicious apps exploiting the vulnerability locally. 3) Utilize Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor device compliance, enforce security policies, and remotely manage device updates. 4) Limit local access to devices by enforcing strong authentication mechanisms such as biometrics or PINs to reduce the risk of local attackers exploiting the vulnerability. 5) Conduct regular security awareness training for employees on the risks of installing unauthorized applications and the importance of device security. 6) Monitor device behavior for anomalous privilege escalations or unauthorized permission changes using endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools tailored for mobile environments. 7) For high-risk environments, consider deploying additional endpoint protection solutions that can detect exploitation attempts or unusual privilege escalations on Android devices. These measures, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the likelihood and impact of exploitation.