CVE-2022-20147
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation on Android devices through an out-of-bounds write in the NFC stack. Attackers can gain elevated privileges without user interaction or additional execution permissions. Affects Android 10 through 12L devices with NFC hardware.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with system privileges, install persistent malware, access sensitive data, and bypass security controls.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation enabling attackers to gain system-level access, potentially leading to data theft, surveillance, or further exploitation.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper patching and security controls; attackers would need physical access or another exploit chain to reach the vulnerable component.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires local access to device; no user interaction needed but attacker must already have some level of access to trigger the vulnerability.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Bulletin June 2022 patches
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2022-06-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Install June 2022 security patch or later. 3. Restart device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable NFC
androidTemporarily disable NFC functionality to prevent exploitation
adb shell settings put secure nfc_on 0
Settings > Connected devices > Connection preferences > NFC (toggle off)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Disable NFC functionality completely through device settings
- Implement strict physical security controls for devices
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version: Settings > About phone > Android version. If version is 10, 11, 12, or 12L without June 2022 security patch, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android security patch level is June 2022 or later: Settings > About phone > Android security patch level.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual NFC stack crashes in system logs
- Privilege escalation attempts in security logs
- Abnormal nfa_dm process behavior
Network Indicators:
- None - local exploit only
SIEM Query:
source="android_system" AND (process="nfa_dm" OR message="*nfa_dm_check_set_config*") AND severity=ERROR