CVE-2019-2085 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-117496180
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2085 resides within the libxaac library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 deployments. This issue represents a critical security flaw that manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition, fundamentally compromising the integrity of memory operations within the audio processing framework. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper bounds checking mechanisms within the library's implementation, creating an exploitable path where malicious input can exceed allocated memory boundaries and overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the category of memory corruption vulnerabilities, specifically aligning with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient bounds checking, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, typically through the delivery of malicious audio content or media files that trigger the affected libxaac processing path. This requirement for user interaction reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the severity of the potential outcome, as the exploitation can occur without any additional privileges or execution context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Android devices running Android 10, as it enables remote code execution capabilities that can be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. The absence of privilege escalation requirements means that successful exploitation can occur through standard user-level interactions, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. The vulnerability affects the core audio processing pipeline, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application or system service.
The exploitation of CVE-2019-2085 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and code execution. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers can potentially compromise devices through network-based attacks or malicious media delivery without requiring physical access. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface analysis, especially in environments where Android devices process untrusted media content. The Android ID A-117496180 indicates this issue was properly tracked and addressed through the Android security bulletin process, emphasizing the importance of timely patch deployment for maintaining system integrity.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch application through official Android security updates, as well as network-based filtering of potentially malicious audio content. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious media processing activities and consider device management policies that enforce automatic security updates. The vulnerability's nature suggests that defensive measures should include runtime application control and memory protection mechanisms to detect and prevent unauthorized memory access patterns, particularly in environments where user-generated content processing is common.