# CVE-2022-20385: Memory corruption in Android

> An out-of-bounds access in the Android kernel's nla_parse function allows attackers to potentially execute code or escalate privileges via crafted netlink messages.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 13 Sep 2022
- **Updated:** 3 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pwg3-f8g7-h57r

## What is CVE-2022-20385?

CVE-2022-20385 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Google Android, published on 13 Sep 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

a function called 'nla_parse', do not check the len of para, it will check nla_type (which can be controlled by userspace) with 'maxtype' (in this case, it is GSCAN_MAX), then it access polciy array 'policy[type]', which OOB access happens.Product: AndroidVersions: Android SoCAndroid ID: A-238379819

Weakness: CWE-1284 (Improper Validation of Specified Quantity in Input)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-20385?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-20385?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2022-20385 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20385 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Google Android

- [CVE-2026-58704](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58704/): Google Pixel Improper Authorization (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48543](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48543/): Android Runtime Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-35674](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35674/): Android Framework Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48595/): Android Framework Integer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-32896](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32896/): Android Pixel Privilege Escalation (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-20385 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-20385 is a critical memory corruption vulnerability in Google Android, published on 13 Sep 2022. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20385 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Google Android. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20385/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20385/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-20385
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-20385
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-20385

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-20385/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.