CVE-2019-9262 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In MPEG4Extractor, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow. This could lead to remote code execution in the media extractor with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-111792351
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9262 resides within the MPEG4Extractor component of Android's media framework, specifically targeting the Android 10 operating system. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that could potentially enable remote code execution when exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs due to an integer overflow within the media processing pipeline, making it particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged without requiring any additional privileges or execution context from the attacker.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the MPEG4Extractor module, which processes multimedia files for playback within the Android operating system. When processing specially crafted media files, the extractor fails to properly validate integer values that control buffer allocations and memory operations, leading to an integer overflow condition. This overflow subsequently results in an out-of-bounds write operation that can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate program execution flow and execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow, which is a well-known class of memory safety issues that frequently leads to remote code execution in multimedia processing components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it requires only user interaction to trigger, making it particularly concerning for mobile environments where users frequently encounter multimedia content from untrusted sources. Attackers could potentially deliver malicious media files through various vectors including email attachments, messaging applications, web downloads, or compromised websites, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. The fact that no additional privileges are required for exploitation means that even basic user accounts could potentially leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities within the media processing context.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it enables attackers to execute code on target systems through media file processing. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers could potentially compromise entire Android devices without requiring physical access or prior system compromise. Security researchers have noted that media processing components like MPEG4Extractor are frequently targeted due to their complex nature and the wide variety of file formats they must handle, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within mobile environments.
The mitigation approach for CVE-2019-9262 involves immediate deployment of Android security patches released by Google, which address the integer overflow condition in the MPEG4Extractor module. System administrators should prioritize updating affected Android devices to versions containing the patched media processing components, as the vulnerability remains exploitable until proper remediation occurs. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious media content and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can enforce automatic security updates. The vulnerability's presence in Android 10 highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing layered security approaches that protect against multiple attack vectors simultaneously.