CVE-2019-2008 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In createEffect of AudioFlinger.cpp, there is a possible memory corruption due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9Android ID: A-122309228
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2008 resides within the AudioFlinger component of Android's media framework, specifically in the createEffect function implementation within AudioFlinger.cpp. This flaw represents a critical race condition that can result in memory corruption, potentially enabling local privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability affects Android versions 8.0, 8.1, and 9, making it a widespread concern across multiple generations of the Android operating system. The Android ID A-122309228 indicates this was properly tracked and documented by Google's security team.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the AudioFlinger's effect creation process. When multiple threads attempt to create audio effects simultaneously, the race condition allows for memory corruption through improper handling of shared resources. The flaw occurs during the initialization and configuration phases of audio effect objects, where concurrent access to memory structures can lead to invalid memory writes or reads. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming contexts. The memory corruption manifests when the system attempts to manage audio effect objects in a multi-threaded environment without adequate locking mechanisms or atomic operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction beyond the initial exploitation trigger. An attacker with local access to a device can leverage this flaw to elevate their privileges from a regular user context to system-level access. This represents a serious security concern as it allows for complete system compromise through a relatively straightforward exploitation process. The vulnerability can be exploited to gain root access to the Android system, potentially enabling full control over device operations, data access, and system configuration. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through race conditions and memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2008 primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which address the race condition through proper synchronization mechanisms and memory management. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Android versions, particularly in enterprise environments where device security is paramount. Additional protective measures include implementing proper access controls, monitoring for suspicious system behavior, and ensuring that only trusted applications have access to audio system components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper concurrent programming practices and the need for thorough testing of multi-threaded components in mobile operating systems. Organizations should also consider implementing security monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns consistent with privilege escalation attempts.