CVE-2019-9365 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Bluetooth, there is a possible deserialization error due to missing string validation. This could lead to remote code execution with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-109838537
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9365 represents a critical deserialization flaw within the Bluetooth implementation of Android 10 operating systems. This security weakness resides in the Bluetooth subsystem's handling of serialized data structures, specifically lacking proper validation of string inputs during the deserialization process. The flaw is categorized under CWE-502 which defines "Deserialization of Untrusted Data" as a fundamental security vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution when malicious data is processed by an application. The vulnerability affects Android version 10 and carries the Android ID A-109838537, indicating its classification within Google's internal vulnerability tracking system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the Bluetooth protocol stack when processing incoming serialized data packets. During normal Bluetooth operations, devices exchange serialized data structures containing various parameters and configuration information. The missing string validation allows attackers to craft specially malformed serialized objects that, when processed by the Bluetooth subsystem, trigger unexpected behavior in the deserialization routine. This particular flaw operates at the protocol level where Bluetooth communication occurs, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through wireless transmission without requiring any form of physical access or user interaction. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require additional privileges beyond what is normally available to Bluetooth devices, meaning an attacker could potentially compromise a device simply by establishing a Bluetooth connection and sending malicious data packets.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9365 extends beyond typical Bluetooth security concerns due to its potential for remote code execution without user interaction. This characteristic places it within the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution" as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on target devices. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that malicious actors could potentially compromise Android 10 devices from considerable distances, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments and personal devices that frequently connect to unknown Bluetooth networks. The lack of user interaction requirements significantly increases the attack surface and reduces the barriers for successful exploitation, as users do not need to perform any specific actions for the vulnerability to be triggered. This makes the flaw particularly dangerous in scenarios where devices are left in discoverable mode or automatically connect to known Bluetooth devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9365 should focus on immediate patch deployment through official Android security updates, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent Android security releases. Organizations should implement Bluetooth access controls that limit device discoverability and restrict automatic connections to unknown devices. Network administrators should consider disabling Bluetooth functionality on enterprise devices when not required for business operations, and implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous Bluetooth activity patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in network protocol implementations and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of serialization mechanisms. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of Bluetooth-enabled systems and ensure that all Bluetooth components are kept current with the latest security patches. The flaw also emphasizes the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through wireless protocols.