CVE-2019-9290 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In tzdata there is possible memory corruption due to a mismatch between allocation and deallocation functions. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-113039724
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9290 resides within the tzdata component of Android systems, representing a critical memory corruption issue that stems from an improper mismatch between allocation and deallocation functions. This flaw exists in the timezone data handling mechanism that Android devices utilize to manage temporal information across different geographic regions. The tzdata package serves as the foundation for timezone calculations and conversions, making it a fundamental component of the operating system's time management infrastructure. The vulnerability manifests when the system allocates memory using one function but subsequently deallocates it using a different function, creating a scenario where memory corruption can occur during the deallocation process.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-415, which describes improper deallocation of memory where a program allocates memory using one function but frees it using another function that is incompatible with the allocation method. This mismatch creates a potential for heap corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain elevated privileges on the affected device. The flaw specifically affects Android 10 and is tracked under Android ID A-113039724, indicating its severity and the need for immediate attention within the Android security ecosystem. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically without any deliberate action from the user.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides a pathway for local privilege escalation attacks. An attacker who gains access to a device with this vulnerability can potentially elevate their privileges from a regular user context to a system-level privileged context, effectively gaining complete control over the device's functionality. This escalation occurs because the memory corruption affects core system components that handle privilege management and access control. The implications are severe for device security since the attacker does not need additional execution privileges or user interaction to exploit the vulnerability, making it an ideal target for automated attacks and malware that could leverage this flaw for persistent access to affected devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9290 should focus on immediate patch deployment through official Android security updates, as this vulnerability requires system-level modifications to address the underlying allocation and deallocation mismatches in the tzdata implementation. Organizations should prioritize updating all Android 10 devices to the latest security patches released by Google, as these updates contain the necessary corrections to the memory management functions. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts, though the lack of user interaction requirements means that such attacks could occur silently in the background. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation,' indicates that defensive measures should include comprehensive memory integrity checks and regular security assessments of system components that handle temporal data. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous behavior patterns associated with privilege escalation attempts.