CVE-2019-2004 in macOS
Summary
by MITRE
In publishKeyEvent, publishMotionEvent and sendUnchainedFinishedSignal of InputTransport.cpp, there are uninitialized data leading to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-7.0 Android-7.1.1 Android-7.1.2 Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9Android ID: A-115739809
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2020
This vulnerability exists in the Android input transport system within the InputTransport.cpp file where three critical functions publishKeyEvent, publishMotionEvent, and sendUnchainedFinishedSignal contain uninitialized data that can be accessed by local processes. The flaw stems from improper memory initialization within the Android framework's input handling mechanisms, specifically affecting the input event processing pipeline that manages user interactions with the device. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue that does not require any special privileges or user interaction to exploit, making it particularly concerning for Android devices where multiple applications and services operate within the same security context. This represents a classic case of uninitialized memory access that can lead to information leakage through the exposure of sensitive data from adjacent memory locations that were never properly cleared or initialized by the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the input transport subsystem which handles the routing of input events from hardware devices through the Android framework to applications. When these three specific functions process input events, they fail to properly initialize certain memory regions before using them, creating potential information disclosure paths. The uninitialized data could contain remnants of previous operations, sensitive application data, or system information that was previously stored in the same memory locations. This memory access pattern violates fundamental security principles and can be exploited to extract confidential information that was not explicitly intended for disclosure. The vulnerability affects all Android versions from 7.0 through 9.0, indicating it was a widespread issue within the Android input handling architecture that persisted across multiple major releases and was not properly addressed until later security patches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it creates potential attack vectors for local privilege escalation and data exfiltration. While no user interaction is required for exploitation, the vulnerability can be leveraged by malicious applications already running on the device to extract sensitive information from other processes or system components. Attackers could potentially access memory contents that contain application state data, user credentials, or other confidential information that was stored in memory prior to the current execution context. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-457 which describes the use of uninitialized variables and represents a significant concern for Android devices where applications operate with broad access to system resources. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 which involves the execution of code through legitimate system processes, as the vulnerability could be exploited to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data through legitimate input processing channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Organizations and device manufacturers should ensure all affected Android devices receive the appropriate patches that properly initialize memory regions within the input transport subsystem. System administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious local process activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around input event processing. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory initialization practices in system-level code and emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing of core framework components. Additionally, implementing application sandboxing and access controls can help limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while regular security audits of input handling mechanisms can identify similar uninitialized memory issues that may exist in other parts of the system.