CVE-2019-2188 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In the Easel driver, there is possible memory corruption due to race conditions. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-112309571
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-2188 resides within the Easel driver component of Android systems, representing a critical memory corruption issue that stems from race conditions inherent in the kernel-level implementation. This flaw specifically affects the Android kernel and manifests through improper synchronization mechanisms that allow concurrent access to shared memory resources without adequate protective measures. The Easel driver serves as a hardware abstraction layer for graphics processing and system-level operations, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a race condition aligns with CWE-362, which specifically addresses concurrent execution issues where multiple threads or processes access shared resources simultaneously without proper mutual exclusion. Such conditions create opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to leverage the race condition present in the Easel driver's memory management routines. When multiple processes or threads attempt to access the same memory locations simultaneously, the lack of proper locking mechanisms can result in corrupted memory states that may be manipulated to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without requiring physical access or user engagement. The flaw essentially allows local attackers to transition from regular user privileges to system execution privileges, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the Android security model. This type of privilege escalation is classified under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through race conditions and memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-2188 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with complete system control capabilities. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to bypass Android's security boundaries and execute code with the highest possible privileges, effectively granting them complete control over the device. This includes the ability to modify system files, install malicious applications, access all user data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects Android kernel versions and represents a fundamental flaw in the kernel's memory management and synchronization mechanisms. The Android ID A-112309571 indicates this was tracked as a significant security concern within Google's internal vulnerability tracking system, highlighting the severity of the issue. The race condition nature of the flaw makes it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through traditional security measures, as it often manifests only under specific timing conditions that are difficult to reproduce consistently.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-2188 primarily focus on patching the affected Android kernel components and implementing proper synchronization mechanisms within the Easel driver. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the latest security updates from Google and relevant vendors to address this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper mutex locking or other synchronization primitives to prevent concurrent access to shared memory resources during critical operations. Additionally, runtime monitoring systems can be enhanced to detect anomalous memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper concurrent programming practices in kernel-level components and the necessity of thorough security testing for all system drivers. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on synchronization mechanisms can help identify similar race conditions in other kernel components, preventing future vulnerabilities of this nature from being introduced into the system.