CVE-2019-9284 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Bluetooth, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote information disclosure, with no additional privileges required. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-111850706
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9284 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Bluetooth implementation of Android 10 operating systems. This issue stems from a fundamental missing bounds check in the Bluetooth stack that processes incoming data packets. The flaw exists in the lower-level Bluetooth protocol handling components where insufficient validation occurs before accessing memory buffers containing received Bluetooth data. Such a vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the Bluetooth protocol parser to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it firmly within the CWE-129 category of "Improper Validation of Array Index" and more specifically aligns with CWE-125 "Out-of-Bounds Read" as defined by the Common Weakness Enumeration standard. This weakness classifies the flaw as a memory safety issue where the system fails to properly validate input data before processing it, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Android Bluetooth subsystem, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring any user interaction or elevated privileges, which significantly broadens its attack surface.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to Android 10 devices as it enables remote information disclosure attacks through Bluetooth connections. An attacker positioned within Bluetooth range can craft malicious packets that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, potentially extracting sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system memory contents. The lack of user interaction requirement means that devices can be compromised simply by being within range of an attacker's malicious Bluetooth device, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile devices that maintain continuous Bluetooth connectivity. The attack vector operates entirely over the air without requiring physical access or user engagement, aligning with the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1041 technique for Exfiltration Over Command and Control Channel.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal prerequisites, as it operates entirely within the Bluetooth protocol stack without needing authentication or user consent. This characteristic makes it particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to conduct large-scale reconnaissance or information gathering operations against Android 10 devices. The impact extends beyond simple data disclosure to potentially enable further attacks, as the extracted information could be used to craft more sophisticated exploits or to gain additional system access. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's remote nature and lack of user interaction requirements make it a prime candidate for automated exploitation campaigns targeting vulnerable Android devices in public spaces or corporate environments where Bluetooth connectivity is frequently maintained. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including system updates, Bluetooth disabling when not required, and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.