CVE-2022-20462 is a high-severity local privilege escalation vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the Android operating system, specifically Android 10 through Android 13, including Android 12L. The vulnerability exists in the phNxpNciHal_write_unlocked function within the phNxpNciHal.cc source file, which is part of the NFC (Near Field Communication) controller interface hardware abstraction layer. The root cause is a missing bounds check that leads to a possible out-of-bounds write (CWE-787). This memory corruption flaw can be exploited by a local attacker with limited privileges (PR:L) to escalate their privileges on the device without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction (UI:N). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Exploitation does not require user interaction and the attack scope is local, meaning the attacker must have some level of access to the device, such as through a malicious app or compromised user account. While no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature makes it a significant risk for Android devices, as successful exploitation could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to full device compromise, unauthorized data access, or persistent malware installation. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Android versions, which are widely deployed across many devices globally, including smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems using Android. The lack of a patch link in the provided data suggests that remediation may require updating to a fixed Android security patch level once available from device manufacturers or Google.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk due to the widespread use of Android devices among employees and within operational environments. Elevated privileges on Android devices can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive corporate data, interception of communications, and potential lateral movement within enterprise networks if devices are connected to internal resources. This is particularly critical for sectors with high data protection requirements such as finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe. The vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that attackers could exfiltrate sensitive information, manipulate data, or disrupt device functionality. Additionally, since no user interaction is required, the attack surface is larger, increasing the likelihood of exploitation in environments where device security hygiene is not strictly enforced. The impact extends to mobile device management (MDM) systems and bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies, where compromised devices could undermine organizational security controls. Given the GDPR regulatory environment, data breaches resulting from exploitation could also lead to significant legal and financial consequences for European entities.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Ensure all Android devices are updated to the latest security patches provided by device manufacturers or Google, specifically targeting fixes for CVE-2022-20462. 2) Implement strict application vetting and restrict installation of apps from untrusted sources to reduce the risk of local attackers gaining initial access. 3) Employ mobile threat defense (MTD) solutions that can detect anomalous behavior indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 4) Enforce least privilege principles on Android devices, limiting app permissions and disabling NFC functionality where not required to reduce the attack surface. 5) Integrate device compliance checks within MDM solutions to block or quarantine devices that are not patched or show signs of compromise. 6) Educate users about the risks of installing unauthorized applications and the importance of timely updates. 7) Monitor device logs and network traffic for unusual activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. These measures, combined with a robust patch management program, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.