CVE-2019-2146 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libxaac, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-112859714
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2146 resides within the libxaac library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 releases. This issue represents a classic out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data before processing it. The flaw exists in the audio decoding subsystem where the libxaac library handles advanced audio coding format files, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted audio content could trigger memory access violations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which is a well-documented weakness in software development practices that allows attackers to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This particular flaw demonstrates how audio processing components can become attack vectors when proper input validation mechanisms are absent or insufficient.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the absence of bounds checking during audio frame processing within the libxaac library. When an Android device processes specially crafted audio files, the decoder attempts to read data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations. This type of information disclosure vulnerability does not require elevated privileges or additional execution capabilities, making it particularly concerning for mobile environments where users frequently interact with multimedia content. The attack requires user interaction through the deliberate consumption of malicious audio files, which aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1203 for exploitation of software vulnerabilities. The Android operating system's multimedia framework serves as the attack surface where this vulnerability manifests, specifically within the audio decoding pipeline that processes AAC format files.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2146 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially expose sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application memory contents that might be stored in adjacent memory segments. This vulnerability affects all Android 10 devices and represents a significant risk to user privacy and device security, particularly in scenarios where users might unknowingly encounter malicious audio content through various channels such as messaging applications, media sharing platforms, or web browsing activities. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically involving the playback or processing of a specially crafted audio file, which makes it highly relevant to real-world attack scenarios. The vulnerability's classification as a remote information disclosure threat means that attackers could potentially exploit this weakness without requiring physical access to the device, making it a critical concern for mobile security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches provided by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Users should ensure their devices are running the latest Android 10 security patches that include fixes for this specific issue. System administrators and security teams should prioritize deployment of these updates across enterprise environments where Android devices are in use. Additionally, organizations can implement network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious audio content and employ mobile device management solutions that can automatically apply security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation in multimedia processing components and serves as a reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing of audio and video decoding libraries. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with out-of-bounds memory access attempts, providing an additional layer of defense against similar vulnerabilities in other components of the Android ecosystem.