CVE-2019-2072 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-116117112
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2072 resides within the libxaac library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 implementations. This issue represents a critical security flaw that stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the audio decoding subsystem. The vulnerability manifests as a missing bounds check during audio frame processing, creating an exploitable condition that could enable remote code execution without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond initial exploitation. The affected libxaac library serves as a crucial component in Android's audio processing pipeline, handling advanced audio coding formats that are commonly encountered in multimedia applications and streaming services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper input validation leading to buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically with CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The flaw occurs when the audio decoder processes malformed input data without adequate boundary verification, allowing an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and script injection, as successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution within the audio processing context. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors could potentially deliver harmful audio content through various channels including network streams, malicious applications, or compromised websites that utilize the affected audio decoding libraries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to Android device security and user privacy. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with the privileges of the audio processing service, potentially leading to full device compromise. The requirement for user interaction suggests that exploitation might occur through social engineering tactics or by tricking users into opening malicious media files, though the lack of additional privilege requirements makes the attack vector particularly dangerous. The vulnerability's presence in the core audio processing libraries means that it could affect a wide range of applications and services that rely on standard audio decoding functionality, making it a high-priority target for exploitation. The Android ID A-116117112 indicates this was properly tracked and addressed through Android security updates, with the vulnerability being classified as requiring immediate patching to prevent potential exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2072 primarily focus on applying the relevant Android security patches that address the bounds checking deficiencies within libxaac. System administrators and users should ensure that all Android devices are updated to the latest security patches released by Google, particularly those addressing the audio decoding subsystem. Network administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious audio content delivery and consider network segmentation to limit potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability's classification as requiring user interaction suggests that security awareness training could help reduce successful exploitation attempts, though the underlying technical flaw must be addressed through proper patch management. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted audio processing components and monitor for unusual audio decoding activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.