CVE-2022-20538 Information disclosure in Android

What is CVE-2022-20538?

CVE-2022-20538 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 16 Dec 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

Official description

In getSmsRoleHolder of RoleService.java, there is a possible way to determine whether an app is installed, without query permissions, due to side channel information disclosure. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-13Android ID: A-235601770

Weakness: CWE-203

Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-20538?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Google Android.

How do I fix CVE-2022-20538?

Apply the vendor's patch.

Is CVE-2022-20538 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-20538 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Other vulnerabilities in Google Android

• CVE-2026-58704 Google Pixel Improper Authorization Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2025-48543 Android Runtime Use-After-Free Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2023-35674 Android Framework Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.8
• CVE-2025-48595 Android Framework Integer Overflow Exploited High 8.4
• CVE-2024-32896 Android Pixel Privilege Escalation Exploited High 8.1

All Google Android vulnerabilities

Sources

• CVE record
• NVD
• OSV
• GitHub advisory
• How this page is made

Also known as A-235601770, GHSA-7p3m-5qgr-x458, PUB-A-235601770.