CVE-2019-2075 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-115908308
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2075 resides within the libxaac library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 deployments. This issue manifests as a potential out of bounds write condition that stems from an inadequate bounds check implementation. The flaw exists in the audio decoding processing pipeline where the system fails to properly validate input data boundaries before writing to memory locations. Such a vulnerability represents a critical security concern as it can potentially be exploited to achieve remote code execution without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction beyond the initial exploitation trigger. The Android ID A-115908308 specifically tracks this vulnerability within Google's internal tracking systems, indicating its significance in the Android security ecosystem.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which defines out-of-bounds write conditions as a critical weakness in software systems. The flaw occurs during audio processing when malformed input data is fed into the libxaac decoder without proper validation of buffer boundaries. This allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory space, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program data structures. The exploitation requires user interaction, typically through the delivery of malicious audio content that when processed by the vulnerable library triggers the memory corruption. This attack vector leverages the standard audio processing pathways that applications and system components use to handle multimedia content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through common media playback scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2075 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass potential system compromise and data exfiltration. Since the vulnerability exists in a core audio processing library, successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain persistent access to affected devices without requiring elevated privileges. The remote code execution capability means that malicious actors could potentially compromise devices through various attack vectors including malicious media files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or even through compromised media streaming services. The vulnerability's presence in Android 10 systems indicates that it affects a significant portion of the mobile device ecosystem, particularly as Android 10 was widely deployed across various smartphone and tablet models from multiple manufacturers. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that audio processing occurs frequently in both user applications and system services, creating multiple potential entry points for exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2075 should focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Android users and administrators should prioritize updating to the latest security patches released by Google, which typically include fixes for this class of vulnerability through enhanced bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. The fix generally involves implementing proper buffer size validation before memory writes occur, ensuring that all input data is validated against expected ranges and lengths. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and code integrity checks can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Security researchers and organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious audio file processing activities and implementing network-based detection measures that can identify potentially malicious audio content before it reaches vulnerable systems. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1059 technique for command and control communication, as exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access through remote code execution capabilities.