CVE-2019-2059 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libxaac, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote code execution with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-118386824
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2059 resides within the libxaac library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 builds. This issue represents a critical security flaw that manifests as a possible out-of-bounds write condition, a type of memory corruption vulnerability that can severely compromise system integrity. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper bounds checking within the audio processing code, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted audio data could trigger unintended memory operations. The Android ID A-118386824 specifically tracks this vulnerability within Google's internal reporting system, indicating its significance within the Android security framework.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-129, which deals with insufficient bounds checking. The vulnerability occurs during audio decoding processes where the libxaac library fails to validate the size or boundaries of incoming audio data before writing to memory locations. This missing validation allows an attacker to craft specially formatted audio files that, when processed by the affected library, can overwrite adjacent memory regions. The out-of-bounds write condition creates an exploitable path that could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk as it requires no additional execution privileges for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with multimedia content. The need for user interaction means that attackers would typically need to entice victims to play malicious audio files, but once triggered, the vulnerability could enable full remote code execution capabilities. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile platforms where users regularly encounter multimedia content from various sources, including potentially malicious third-party applications or downloaded media files.
The potential impact of CVE-2019-2059 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a pathway for attackers to gain unauthorized access to device resources and potentially escalate privileges. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malicious applications, access sensitive user data, or establish persistent backdoors within affected Android devices. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely fall under techniques related to code injection and privilege escalation, as the out-of-bounds write creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow and gain elevated system access. Organizations and users should prioritize patching affected Android systems to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability could be exploited in the wild without requiring specialized tools or extensive user interaction beyond the simple act of playing compromised audio content.