CVE-2019-9266 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In sensorservice, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-119501435
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9266 resides within the sensorservice component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 10 and earlier versions. This issue represents a critical security flaw that could potentially be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation, granting attackers System execution privileges. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs due to the absence of proper bounds checking mechanisms within the sensor service implementation. Such a flaw in a system service component presents significant operational risks as it directly impacts the core functionality of device sensor management and security boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-129, which deals with insufficient bounds checking. The sensorservice component operates with elevated privileges to manage hardware sensors and their associated data processing, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. When the service processes sensor data without proper validation of array indices or buffer boundaries, an attacker can manipulate input data to write beyond allocated memory regions. This memory corruption can potentially be leveraged to overwrite critical system structures, function pointers, or other memory locations that control execution flow. The absence of user interaction requirements for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically without any user engagement, potentially allowing for silent privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9266 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in Android's security model at the system service level. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can gain system-level privileges, enabling them to modify system files, install malicious applications, access sensitive data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning because sensor services typically run with high privileges and have direct access to hardware components, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent access. This vulnerability effectively undermines the principle of least privilege that should govern system service operations, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal security controls and gain unauthorized access to critical system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9266 should focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Android users and administrators should prioritize updating to Android 10 or later versions where this vulnerability has been addressed through proper bounds checking implementations. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring and logging of sensor service activities to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in system services, aligning with ATT&CK framework technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should conduct thorough security assessments of their Android device management policies and consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, enhanced monitoring, and regular security audits to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other system components.