CVE-2022-20496 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting multiple recent versions of the Android operating system, specifically Android 12, Android 12L, and Android 13. The flaw exists in the setDataSource function within the initMediaExtractor.cpp component, which is part of the media extraction framework responsible for processing media files. The vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free (CWE-416), where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed, potentially leading to undefined behavior. In this case, the use-after-free can be exploited to cause arbitrary code execution locally, but the primary impact identified is information disclosure. The vulnerability does not require user interaction to be exploited, and the attacker needs only limited privileges (local access with low privileges) to trigger the flaw. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level, with the vector AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N meaning the attack requires local access, low complexity, low privileges, no user interaction, unchanged scope, and results in high confidentiality impact but no integrity or availability impact. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches or mitigation links are provided in the source information. The vulnerability could allow an attacker with local access to an affected device to extract sensitive information from memory, potentially leaking private data or cryptographic material processed by the media extractor component. Since this flaw is in a core Android media component, it affects a wide range of devices running the specified Android versions, including smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems using these OS versions.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-20496 is the potential local disclosure of sensitive information on devices running affected Android versions. This could compromise confidentiality of corporate or personal data stored or processed on mobile devices, especially if attackers gain physical or local access to devices. While the vulnerability does not allow remote exploitation or denial of service, the information disclosure could facilitate further targeted attacks or espionage, particularly in sectors handling sensitive information such as government, finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. The lack of requirement for user interaction increases the risk in environments where devices may be shared or temporarily accessible by untrusted individuals. However, since exploitation requires local access and low privileges, the threat is somewhat limited to scenarios involving insider threats, device theft, or malware with local execution capabilities. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for vigilance. Organizations relying heavily on Android devices for secure communications or data processing should consider this vulnerability a moderate risk to confidentiality.

1. Ensure all Android devices are updated to the latest available security patches from device manufacturers or Google, as vendors typically release fixes for such vulnerabilities in monthly security updates. 2. Enforce strict device access controls, including strong authentication mechanisms (PIN, biometrics) to prevent unauthorized local access. 3. Deploy mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor device compliance and remotely wipe or lock devices if lost or stolen. 4. Limit installation of untrusted or unnecessary applications that could leverage local code execution to exploit this vulnerability. 5. Educate users on the risks of physical device compromise and encourage secure handling of devices, especially in high-risk environments. 6. For organizations developing custom Android builds or embedded Android systems, review and patch the media extractor component source code to eliminate the use-after-free condition. 7. Monitor security advisories from Google and device vendors for official patches and apply them promptly. 8. Consider implementing runtime protections such as memory safety hardening or sandboxing enhancements where feasible to reduce exploitation impact.