CVE-2022-20475 is a high-severity elevation of privilege vulnerability affecting multiple versions of the Android operating system, specifically Android 11, 12, 12L, and 13. The vulnerability arises from a logic flaw in the ResetTargetTaskHelper.java component, which is involved in task management within the Android framework. The core issue is a confused deputy problem where an attacker can hijack any app that has the attribute allowTaskReparenting="true" set in its manifest. This attribute allows an activity to be moved to a different task, which is a legitimate feature for task and activity management. However, due to improper validation, a malicious local app with limited privileges can exploit this behavior to escalate its privileges without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability does not require user interaction, making it easier to exploit in local scenarios. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector limited to local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), and unchanged scope (S:U). Exploitation could allow an attacker to gain elevated privileges, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, modification of system settings, or disruption of device functionality. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability's nature and ease of exploitation make it a significant threat to Android devices running the affected versions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), highlighting that the root cause is related to improper permission or access control configurations within the Android framework's task management subsystem.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-20475 can be substantial, especially for enterprises and government entities relying on Android devices for communication, data access, and operational tasks. Successful exploitation could allow a local attacker or malicious app to escalate privileges, bypassing security controls and gaining access to sensitive corporate or personal data stored on the device. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to confidential information, and potential disruption of mobile workforce operations. Additionally, compromised devices could be used as pivot points for lateral movement within corporate networks if connected via VPN or internal Wi-Fi. The vulnerability also poses risks to critical infrastructure sectors that use Android-based devices for monitoring or control, potentially affecting availability and integrity of services. Given the lack of required user interaction, the threat is more severe in environments where users install apps from less controlled sources or where device management policies are lax. The impact extends to privacy concerns under GDPR, as unauthorized access to personal data could lead to regulatory penalties and reputational damage.

1. Immediate deployment of security patches provided by device manufacturers or Android security updates is the most effective mitigation. Organizations should prioritize patching devices running Android 11 through 13. 2. Enforce strict application installation policies, restricting installations to trusted sources such as Google Play Store and using Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to control app permissions and attributes like allowTaskReparenting. 3. Audit and monitor installed applications for the allowTaskReparenting="true" attribute, especially for apps installed from third-party sources, and remove or restrict those that unnecessarily enable this attribute. 4. Implement runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting abnormal privilege escalations or suspicious local app behaviors on Android devices. 5. Educate users about the risks of installing untrusted apps and encourage adherence to organizational mobile security policies. 6. For high-security environments, consider restricting local app execution privileges and employing application sandboxing or containerization to limit the impact of potential exploits. 7. Monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits targeting this vulnerability to enable rapid incident response.