CVE-2019-2006 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In serviceDied of HalDeathHandlerHidl.cpp, there is a possible memory corruption due to a use after free. This could lead to local escalation of privilege in the audio server with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-9Android ID: A-116665972
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-2006 represents a critical memory corruption issue within the Android HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) death handler implementation. This flaw exists in the HalDeathHandlerHidl.cpp file where a use-after-free condition occurs during the serviceDied function execution. The vulnerability specifically affects Android 9 operating system versions and is identified by Android ID A-116665972. The root cause stems from improper memory management where a pointer reference is accessed after the memory it points to has been deallocated, creating a scenario where malicious code could exploit this condition to manipulate memory contents.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leads to local privilege escalation within the audio server component of Android. This represents a significant security risk because the audio server typically operates with elevated privileges to manage hardware audio resources and system audio configuration. The use-after-free condition creates a memory corruption state that adversaries can potentially leverage to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the audio server process. This allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources and potentially escalate their privileges beyond what would normally be permitted for standard user applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with a pathway to gain deeper system control through the audio subsystem. The audio server serves as a critical component for system audio management and often requires access to hardware resources that are normally restricted to prevent unauthorized manipulation. This vulnerability essentially creates a backdoor through which malicious actors can bypass normal system security controls and potentially access sensitive audio data or manipulate audio system behavior. The local nature of the exploitation means that no network connectivity or user interaction is required, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited from within the device itself.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper memory management practices within the HAL death handler mechanisms. The fix typically involves ensuring that all pointer references are properly invalidated or cleared after memory deallocation, preventing the use-after-free scenario. Organizations should prioritize applying the Android security patches released by Google that address this specific memory corruption issue. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing runtime monitoring and memory integrity checking mechanisms to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a potential pathway for ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. Regular security audits of HAL implementations and memory management routines should be conducted to prevent similar issues from emerging in other system components.