CVE-2019-2185 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In VlcDequantH263IntraBlock_SH of vlc_dequant.cpp, 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-7.1.1 Android-7.1.2 Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10Android ID: A-136173699
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2185 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the H.263 video decoding component of Android's media framework. This issue resides in the VlcDequantH263IntraBlock_SH function located in the vlc_dequant.cpp source file, where a fundamental bounds checking mechanism has been omitted during the processing of video data. The flaw specifically affects Android versions ranging from 7.1.1 through 10, making it a widespread concern across multiple Android releases. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution vector means that an attacker could potentially compromise affected devices without requiring any privileged execution context, though user interaction remains necessary for successful exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions that occur when a program writes data past the end of a buffer. This particular implementation flaw occurs during the decoding of H.263 video streams where the software fails to validate array indices or buffer boundaries before performing memory writes. The absence of proper bounds checking allows maliciously crafted video content to trigger memory corruption that could be leveraged to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a user to interact with malicious video content, typically through media playback, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios where users might encounter compromised media files during normal device usage.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to Android device users as it enables remote code execution through media processing components that are frequently accessed during normal device operation. The fact that exploitation requires only user interaction makes this attack vector particularly concerning for widespread compromise, as users may inadvertently encounter malicious video content in emails, messaging applications, or media sharing platforms. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Android versions from 7.1.1 through 10 indicates that a substantial portion of the Android user base remains potentially vulnerable, requiring immediate attention from device manufacturers and security administrators. The lack of additional execution privileges needed for exploitation means that even devices with standard user permissions could be compromised, eliminating the need for elevated access rights during the attack process.
Security mitigations for CVE-2019-2185 primarily involve applying the relevant Android security patches released by Google, which include updated media framework components that implement proper bounds checking mechanisms. Device manufacturers should prioritize rapid deployment of these updates across their affected device portfolios, particularly targeting the Android versions mentioned in the vulnerability report. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious media content and educate users about the risks of opening untrusted media files. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual media processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts, while system administrators should ensure that all Android devices within their environment receive timely security updates. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the T1059.007 technique category for process injection and potentially T1203 for legitimate program execution, though the specific nature of the vulnerability makes it more aligned with memory corruption exploitation techniques.