CVE-2022-2390 is a vulnerability identified in the Google Play Services SDK, specifically related to the incorrect setting of the mutability flag on PendingIntents passed to the Android Notification service. PendingIntents are a core Android mechanism that allows an application to pass a tokenized intent to another application or system service, which can then execute the intent with the original application's permissions. The vulnerability arises because the Play Services SDK incorrectly marks these PendingIntents as mutable (modifiable) when they should be immutable (unmodifiable). This misconfiguration allows an attacker to alter the PendingIntent after it has been created but before it is executed, effectively enabling the attacker to manipulate the intent's contents. Since Google Play Services SDK is widely integrated into a vast number of Android applications, this flaw potentially affects a large attack surface. Exploiting this vulnerability enables an attacker to gain unauthorized access to all non-exported content providers within the affected application, or even other content providers for which the victim application has permissions. Content providers are Android components that manage access to a structured set of data, often sensitive or private. Access to non-exported providers is typically restricted to the owning application, so this vulnerability breaks the intended security model, potentially exposing sensitive user data or allowing unauthorized data manipulation. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-471 (Modification of Assumed-Immutable Data), highlighting that data assumed to be immutable by the application can be altered by an attacker. The recommended remediation is to upgrade to version 18.0.2 or later of the Google Play Services SDK, rebuild the affected applications, and redeploy them to ensure the PendingIntents are correctly marked as immutable, thus preventing unauthorized modification. No known exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date, but the widespread use of the SDK means the risk remains significant until patched.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-2390 can be substantial, especially for those relying heavily on Android applications built with the vulnerable versions of the Google Play Services SDK. The vulnerability can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data managed by non-exported content providers within applications, potentially exposing personal data, corporate information, or other confidential content. This breach of confidentiality could violate GDPR and other data protection regulations prevalent in Europe, leading to legal and financial repercussions. Furthermore, unauthorized access to content providers could allow attackers to manipulate data integrity, causing misinformation or corruption of critical application data. Availability impact is less direct but could occur if attackers leverage the vulnerability to disrupt application functionality or escalate privileges for further attacks. Given the pervasiveness of Android devices in European enterprises and among consumers, the scope of affected systems is broad, including mobile banking, healthcare, government, and enterprise applications. The vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond running the vulnerable app, increasing the risk of silent exploitation. Although no exploits are known in the wild, the ease of exploitation due to the mutable PendingIntent flag and the widespread SDK usage elevate the threat level. Organizations with sensitive or regulated data processed via Android apps should prioritize addressing this vulnerability to prevent data breaches and maintain compliance.

1. Immediate upgrade to Google Play Services SDK version 18.0.2 or later is essential. Developers must rebuild and redeploy all affected applications using the updated SDK to ensure the PendingIntents are correctly marked immutable. 2. Conduct an inventory of all Android applications in use or developed internally that incorporate Google Play Services SDK to identify those potentially vulnerable. 3. Implement runtime monitoring for suspicious PendingIntent modifications or unusual access patterns to content providers, which may indicate exploitation attempts. 4. Employ application-layer access controls and data encryption within content providers to add defense-in-depth, reducing the impact if unauthorized access occurs. 5. Educate development teams about the importance of correctly setting PendingIntent mutability flags and secure coding practices related to inter-process communication. 6. Coordinate with mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enforce application updates and restrict installation of outdated or vulnerable app versions. 7. For critical applications, consider additional security reviews or penetration testing focused on IPC mechanisms and PendingIntent usage to detect similar misconfigurations. 8. Monitor threat intelligence feeds and vendor advisories for any emerging exploit reports or patches related to this vulnerability.