CVE-2019-9252 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libavc there is a possible out of bounds read due to uninitialized data. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-73339042
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9252 resides within the libavc library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 deployments. This issue represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition that stems from the handling of uninitialized data structures during video processing operations. The flaw manifests when the system processes certain video frames or encoding parameters, where insufficient initialization of memory buffers leads to unpredictable behavior during subsequent memory access operations. The vulnerability falls under CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, which directly impacts the integrity of memory management operations within the multimedia processing pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to craft malicious video content that triggers the specific code path involving uninitialized data access. While no additional execution privileges are required for exploitation, user interaction becomes necessary as the malicious content must be presented to the vulnerable system for processing. This typically occurs when users view or interact with specially crafted video files that contain malformed encoding parameters or frame data that causes the libavc library to access memory beyond its intended boundaries. The attack vector operates through the standard video playback mechanisms within Android's multimedia framework, making it particularly concerning given the widespread use of video content across mobile platforms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially expose sensitive data from memory regions that should remain protected. Attackers could leverage this condition to extract information about the system's memory layout, potentially gaining insights into process memory structures, kernel addresses, or other confidential data that may aid in more sophisticated exploitation techniques. This information disclosure capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005: Data from Local System, where adversaries seek to gather information about the target system's memory and data structures. The vulnerability's remote nature and lack of privilege requirements make it particularly dangerous in scenarios where users might encounter malicious content through email attachments, web downloads, or other untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9252 should prioritize the immediate application of security patches provided by Google and device manufacturers, as these updates typically include memory initialization fixes and bounds checking improvements within the libavc library. System administrators and security teams should implement proactive monitoring for unusual video processing behavior and consider network-level filtering of suspicious media content until patches are deployed. Additionally, users should exercise caution when handling video content from untrusted sources and ensure their devices receive timely security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory management practices in multimedia processing libraries and underscores the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in video codec implementations, particularly those involving uninitialized memory access patterns that could be exploited by remote attackers.