CVE-2019-9352 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libstagefright, there is a possible resource exhaustion due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-124253062
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9352 resides within the libstagefright multimedia framework component of Android systems, representing a critical resource exhaustion flaw that can be exploited remotely without requiring elevated privileges. This issue manifests through a missing bounds check in the multimedia processing pipeline, specifically affecting how the system handles certain media file formats during parsing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the core multimedia processing layer where Android devices handle various media inputs from different sources, including downloaded content, received messages, and media files from external storage.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation of input data boundaries when processing multimedia containers, particularly those using the Advanced Systems Format (ASF) or similar container formats. When a maliciously crafted media file is processed by libstagefright, the absence of proper bounds checking allows an attacker to manipulate memory allocation parameters through crafted data structures. This results in excessive memory consumption or buffer overflows that cause the multimedia framework to crash or become unresponsive, effectively rendering the device's media processing capabilities unavailable. The vulnerability operates under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for process injection and command and control communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can be leveraged to disrupt critical device functionality and potentially create persistent availability issues for users. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending malicious media files through various communication channels such as SMS, MMS, email attachments, or web downloads, requiring only user interaction to trigger the exploit through normal media consumption activities. The vulnerability affects Android 10 and earlier versions, making it particularly dangerous as it impacts a significant portion of the Android ecosystem where users frequently interact with multimedia content. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation means that even basic user accounts can potentially trigger the vulnerability, making it accessible to adversaries with minimal attack surface requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9352 should focus on immediate system updates and proactive monitoring of media processing activities. Android security patches released in subsequent updates address the bounds checking deficiencies in libstagefright, implementing proper input validation mechanisms to prevent memory exhaustion scenarios. Organizations should also implement network-based filtering solutions that can identify and block suspicious media file patterns, particularly those with malformed headers or unusual parameter structures. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding media files from untrusted sources, as the vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited. Security monitoring should include detection of abnormal memory usage patterns in multimedia processing components and implementation of sandboxing mechanisms that limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in multimedia frameworks and serves as a reminder of the potential for resource exhaustion attacks in system components that handle untrusted data inputs.