CVE-2019-9270 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In the Android kernel in unifi and r8180 WiFi drivers there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9270 represents a critical security flaw within the Android kernel's handling of wireless network drivers, specifically affecting the unifi and r8180 WiFi driver implementations. This issue manifests as a missing bounds check that creates an opportunity for out-of-bounds write conditions, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the kernel's memory management systems. The vulnerability exists at the driver level where insufficient validation occurs during data processing, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory locations beyond their intended boundaries.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper input validation within the kernel's wireless driver subsystem, where the unifi and r8180 drivers fail to adequately verify array indices or buffer sizes before writing data. This missing bounds check creates a predictable exploitation vector that can be leveraged to overwrite critical kernel memory structures, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the highest privileges available to the kernel itself. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 indicates it involves improper validation of the length or index of a buffer, while its operational characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the exploitation of local privileges to gain elevated access.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9270 is particularly severe as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional user interaction or elevated execution privileges to initiate the attack. This means that any user with access to the device can potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain root-level access to the Android kernel, effectively bypassing all standard security controls and access restrictions. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability especially dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user awareness or consent, creating a stealthy attack vector that could remain undetected for extended periods.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android kernel versions and driver implementations, with system administrators prioritizing the deployment of security updates from device manufacturers and Google. The recommended approach involves implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the wireless driver code to validate all buffer operations before memory writes occur. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts, while also ensuring that wireless driver components undergo thorough security code reviews and testing processes before deployment. The vulnerability's severity classification as a local privilege escalation issue necessitates comprehensive system hardening measures and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation attempts.