CVE-2022-20502 is a medium-severity vulnerability affecting Android 13, specifically within the GetResolvedMethod function of the entrypoint_utils-inl.h component. The root cause is a use-after-free condition caused by a stale cache, which leads to potential local information disclosure. This vulnerability arises when the system accesses memory that has already been freed, resulting in exposure of sensitive data to a local attacker. Exploitation does not require additional execution privileges or user interaction, making it feasible for any local application or process with limited privileges to leverage this flaw. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common memory corruption issue that can lead to various security impacts including information leakage. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with the vector indicating local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), no user interaction (UI:N), unchanged scope (S:U), high confidentiality impact (C:H), and no impact on integrity or availability (I:N/A:N). There are no known exploits in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in October 2021 and published in December 2022, indicating a relatively recent discovery and disclosure timeline. The flaw is intrinsic to Android 13, which is the latest major Android release, implying that devices running this version are susceptible unless mitigated by vendor patches or updates.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-20502 primarily concerns confidentiality breaches on devices running Android 13. Since Android is widely used across Europe, especially in enterprise mobile devices and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) environments, sensitive corporate or personal information stored or processed on these devices could be exposed to local attackers. The vulnerability does not allow remote exploitation, limiting the attack surface to local access scenarios, such as malicious apps installed on the device or compromised user environments. However, the high confidentiality impact means that sensitive data such as credentials, personal information, or corporate secrets could be leaked without detection. This could lead to privacy violations, regulatory non-compliance (e.g., GDPR), and potential lateral movement within corporate networks if attackers gain footholds on mobile endpoints. The lack of impact on integrity and availability reduces risks of system manipulation or denial of service, but information disclosure alone can have significant consequences in sectors handling sensitive data, including finance, healthcare, and government agencies in Europe.

Ensure all Android 13 devices in use are updated promptly once official patches become available from device manufacturers or Google, as this is the definitive fix for the use-after-free condition. Implement strict application vetting policies on corporate devices to prevent installation of untrusted or potentially malicious apps that could exploit local vulnerabilities. Leverage mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce security policies, restrict app permissions, and monitor for suspicious local activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Educate users about the risks of installing apps from unofficial sources and the importance of applying system updates promptly. Where feasible, restrict physical and local access to devices, as exploitation requires local access without user interaction, reducing the risk from unauthorized personnel. Employ runtime application self-protection (RASP) or endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation of use-after-free vulnerabilities. For highly sensitive environments, consider isolating Android 13 devices or using alternative devices with earlier Android versions or different OSes until patches are confirmed and applied.