CVE-2019-2154 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-117610057
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2154 resides within the libxaac library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 installations. This issue represents a classic out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the application fails to properly validate input data before processing. The flaw manifests in the audio codec handling mechanism where insufficient bounds checking allows memory access beyond allocated buffers. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when developers assume input data conforms to expected parameters without adequate validation measures. The affected libxaac library serves as a critical component in audio processing pipelines, handling advanced audio coding formats that are essential for multimedia applications and system functionality.
The technical execution of this vulnerability requires user interaction to trigger the malicious input conditions that cause the out-of-bounds memory access. This interaction typically involves the user encountering or processing specially crafted audio files or media content that contains malformed data structures designed to exploit the missing bounds check. The vulnerability operates at the memory management level where the application attempts to read data from memory locations that are beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing insufficient bounds checking in input validation processes. The exploitation process requires careful construction of input data that can bypass normal processing flows and reach the vulnerable code path within the audio decoding library.
From an operational impact perspective, the vulnerability enables information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges or elevated system access. This characteristic makes the exploit particularly concerning as it can be leveraged by attackers without needing root access or special permissions. The information disclosure aspect means that adversaries could potentially extract sensitive data from memory locations that should remain protected, including potentially confidential application data, system information, or other valuable assets stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability affects the Android 10 platform specifically, indicating that devices running this operating system version are exposed to this risk, making it a significant concern for mobile device security and user privacy protection. The attack vector requires user interaction, which aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where user engagement is necessary to initiate the malicious process.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2154 focus primarily on updating the affected Android system to versions that include patched implementations of the libxaac library. Google typically addresses such vulnerabilities through security updates that incorporate proper bounds checking mechanisms and input validation routines. System administrators and users should prioritize applying the latest Android security patches to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious audio file processing activities and consider deploying application whitelisting controls to prevent execution of untrusted media content. The fix typically involves adding comprehensive input validation checks before memory access operations, ensuring that all buffer boundaries are properly verified. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments targeting multimedia processing components and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding similar audio codec vulnerabilities that may present analogous attack surfaces.