CVE-2019-9236 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In NFC, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-122322613
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9236 resides within the Near Field Communication subsystem of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 10. This issue manifests as a missing bounds check that creates an out-of-bounds read condition, representing a classic software flaw that can be categorized under CWE-129 Input Validation and OWASP Top Ten category A03: Injection. The vulnerability exists in the NFC processing logic where insufficient validation occurs when handling incoming data packets, allowing an attacker to craft malicious NFC content that triggers memory access beyond allocated boundaries. The flaw requires user interaction to exploit, typically through the presentation of malicious NFC content to a device, making it a user-initiated attack vector that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 Phishing via Social Engineering.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when NFC data is processed without proper boundary validation, causing the system to read memory locations outside the intended data buffer. This out-of-bounds read can potentially expose sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations, including but not limited to cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential data that may be stored in nearby memory regions. The impact is limited to local information disclosure as no additional execution privileges are required for exploitation, meaning the attack can be carried out without requiring root access or elevated permissions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the user to interact with the malicious NFC content, typically by bringing an NFC-enabled device into proximity with the attacker-controlled NFC tag or device, making this a physical proximity attack that falls under the category of side-channel information leakage.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9236 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposure of memory contents could potentially reveal sensitive system information that could aid in subsequent attacks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the device's internal state, including potentially identifying system configurations, memory layouts, or other data that could be used to refine future exploitation attempts. The vulnerability affects the Android platform's NFC service, which handles all NFC-related operations including card emulation, peer-to-peer communication, and tag reading functionalities. This represents a significant concern for Android devices that frequently interact with NFC technology, particularly in environments where physical proximity attacks are possible, such as public spaces, corporate environments, or any location where NFC-enabled devices might be exposed to malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the NFC processing code, ensuring that all incoming data is validated against expected size parameters before memory access operations are performed. Android security patches released in response to this vulnerability would have included updates to the NFC service implementation, specifically addressing the missing bounds checks in the data processing pipeline. Organizations should ensure their Android devices are updated with the latest security patches, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring additional privileges beyond normal user interaction. The fix typically involves implementing comprehensive input validation routines that verify data boundaries before any memory operations occur, preventing the out-of-bounds read condition from being triggered. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of interacting with unknown NFC devices or tags, as the attack requires user engagement to be successful, making user awareness a critical component of defense against this specific vulnerability.