CVE-2022-20457 is a medium-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting Android 13, specifically within the StorageManagerService component. The flaw resides in the getMountModeInternal function of StorageManagerService.java, where improper input validation can prevent package installation. This improper validation can be exploited locally by an attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to escalate their privileges on the device without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, indicating improper input validation. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the device, but no user interaction (UI:N) is needed to exploit it. The impact primarily affects the integrity of the system, as the attacker can interfere with package installation processes, potentially allowing unauthorized modifications or installations. There is no impact on confidentiality or availability reported. The vulnerability does not require network access or elevated privileges initially, but some limited privileges are needed to exploit it. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or mitigation links have been provided yet. Given the nature of Android devices and the critical role of package installation in system integrity, this vulnerability poses a risk for local attackers aiming to gain higher privileges and potentially compromise device security.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-20457 depends largely on the prevalence of Android 13 devices within their operational environment. Organizations with a significant number of Android 13 endpoints, especially those used by employees for sensitive tasks or accessing corporate resources, could face risks of local privilege escalation attacks. Such attacks could lead to unauthorized installation or modification of applications, potentially bypassing security controls and enabling further compromise or data integrity issues. This is particularly relevant for sectors with high mobile device usage such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies. However, since exploitation requires local access and some privileges, remote attacks are unlikely, reducing the risk from external threat actors. The vulnerability could also be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value individuals or insiders within organizations. The lack of user interaction requirement increases the risk of stealthy exploitation once local access is obtained. Overall, the threat could undermine endpoint security and trustworthiness of Android devices used within European enterprises, potentially leading to data integrity issues and unauthorized software execution.

1. Implement strict device access controls to limit local access to authorized users only, including strong authentication and physical security measures. 2. Employ Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to monitor and control application installations and enforce security policies on Android 13 devices. 3. Restrict installation of applications to trusted sources only, such as Google Play Store, and disable sideloading where possible. 4. Monitor device logs and behaviors for unusual package installation attempts or privilege escalations indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Educate users about the risks of granting local access to untrusted individuals and the importance of device security hygiene. 6. Stay updated with Android security bulletins and apply patches promptly once available from device manufacturers or Google. 7. For organizations deploying custom Android builds or managing device fleets, consider additional input validation checks or runtime protections around StorageManagerService components. 8. Limit the privileges of applications and users on Android devices to the minimum necessary to reduce the attack surface for local privilege escalation.