CVE-2019-2118 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In various functions of Parcel.cpp, there are uninitialized or partially initialized stack variables. These could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9. Android ID: A-130161842.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2118 represents a critical security flaw within the Android operating system's Parcel.cpp implementation, specifically affecting Android versions 8.0, 8.1, and 9. This issue stems from the improper initialization of stack variables within multiple functions, creating potential information disclosure risks that can be exploited without requiring any special privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability resides in the core Android Binder IPC mechanism that facilitates communication between different processes and applications, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves uninitialized or partially initialized stack variables that may contain residual data from previous operations or memory allocations. When these variables are subsequently used in the parcel processing functions, they can inadvertently expose sensitive information that was previously stored in the same memory locations. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-457 category of "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and represents a classic example of how memory management issues can lead to information leakage. The exploitation occurs at the kernel level within the Android runtime environment, where the Binder driver handles inter-process communication requests through the Parcel mechanism.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2118 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially reveal sensitive data that may include cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential information stored in memory. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform passive information gathering without requiring any user interaction or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications are running simultaneously. The flaw affects the fundamental Android system components that handle all inter-process communication, meaning any application or system service that uses the Binder interface could potentially be exploited. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing code through system services and T1005 for data from local system.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which address the uninitialized variable issues in the Parcel.cpp implementation. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates to protect affected Android devices. Additionally, implementing proper memory initialization practices in application code can help prevent similar issues from occurring in custom applications. Organizations should also consider network monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts, as the information disclosure could be used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management practices in system-level code and highlights the need for comprehensive code review processes that specifically address uninitialized variable usage in security-critical components.