CVE-2022-20495 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 flaw exists in the AccessibilityManager component, particularly within the getEnabledAccessibilityServiceList method of AccessibilityManager.java. Due to a logic error, an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to hide an accessibility service from the system's enabled services list. This concealment allows a malicious accessibility service to operate without detection, effectively escalating privileges locally on the device. Notably, exploitation does not require any additional execution privileges, user interaction, or authentication, making it easier for a local attacker or malicious app to leverage this flaw. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions), indicating that improper permission handling leads to unauthorized privilege escalation. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning the attack requires local access with low complexity, minimal privileges, no user interaction, and results in high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Although no known exploits have been reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of affected Android versions and the critical nature of accessibility services, which often have elevated permissions to assist users with disabilities. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized control over device functions, access sensitive data, or disrupt device operations.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-20495 can be substantial, especially those relying heavily on Android devices for business operations, communications, or as part of their mobile workforce. The vulnerability enables local privilege escalation without user interaction, potentially allowing malicious insiders or compromised devices to bypass security controls and access sensitive corporate data or systems. This could lead to data breaches, unauthorized access to confidential information, or disruption of mobile services. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly at risk due to the sensitivity of their data and regulatory requirements under GDPR and other frameworks. Additionally, the ability to hide malicious accessibility services complicates detection and remediation efforts, increasing the risk of persistent threats. The vulnerability may also affect the security posture of Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) environments common in European enterprises, where device management and control are limited. Overall, exploitation could undermine trust in mobile device security and lead to financial, reputational, and compliance-related consequences.

To mitigate CVE-2022-20495 effectively, European organizations should implement the following specific measures beyond generic patching advice: 1) Prioritize updating all Android devices to the latest security patches provided by device manufacturers or Google, as this vulnerability is addressed in recent Android security updates. 2) Enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies that restrict installation of untrusted or unsigned applications, particularly those requesting accessibility service permissions. 3) Monitor and audit accessibility service usage on managed devices to detect any unauthorized or hidden services, leveraging endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with mobile capabilities. 4) Educate users about the risks of granting accessibility permissions to unknown apps and implement application whitelisting where feasible. 5) Employ runtime behavioral analysis on mobile devices to identify anomalous activities indicative of privilege escalation attempts. 6) For high-security environments, consider disabling accessibility services when not required or restricting their use through policy controls. 7) Collaborate with mobile security vendors to deploy threat intelligence feeds that can identify emerging exploitation attempts related to this vulnerability. These targeted actions will reduce the attack surface and improve detection and response capabilities specific to this vulnerability.