CVE-2019-2182 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In the Android kernel in the kernel MMU code there is a possible execution path leaving some kernel text and rodata pages writable. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2182 resides within the Android kernel's memory management unit mmu code, representing a critical security flaw that could enable local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges. This issue stems from an execution path that inadvertently leaves kernel text and read-only data pages writable, fundamentally compromising the kernel's memory protection mechanisms. The vulnerability affects the underlying memory management infrastructure that governs how virtual addresses map to physical memory locations, creating a pathway for malicious code to modify critical kernel components.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the kernel's memory management unit implementation where specific code paths fail to properly enforce memory protection attributes for kernel text and rodata sections. This flaw creates writable permissions on memory regions that should remain read-only, allowing attackers to modify kernel code and data structures directly. The vulnerability manifests in the MMU code that handles memory access control and page table management, where certain conditional execution paths do not properly validate or enforce memory protection settings. This represents a classic case of improper access control where memory protection attributes are not consistently applied across all execution paths.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2182 is severe as it enables local privilege escalation, meaning any user-level process can potentially elevate its privileges to kernel level without requiring additional attack vectors or user interaction. This vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principle of kernel isolation, allowing attackers to modify critical kernel components such as system call tables, memory management functions, or security policy enforcement mechanisms. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user involvement, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control issues and represents a privilege escalation weakness in kernel memory management.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically involves leveraging the writable kernel memory pages to inject malicious code or modify existing kernel functions, potentially enabling attackers to gain root access, disable security features, or establish persistent backdoors. This type of attack follows the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics where adversaries modify kernel memory to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability affects Android devices running kernel versions that contain the problematic MMU code implementation, making it particularly relevant for mobile device security where kernel-level attacks can lead to complete device compromise. Mitigation strategies include applying kernel security patches, implementing memory protection enhancements, and employing kernel memory integrity checking mechanisms to prevent unauthorized modifications to critical kernel memory regions.