CVE-2019-9372 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libskia, there is a possible crash due to a missing null 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-132782448
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9372 resides within the libskia graphics library component of the Android operating system, specifically affecting Android 10 releases. This issue represents a classic null pointer dereference flaw that occurs when the system fails to validate input data before attempting to access memory locations. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL Pointer Dereference conditions in software development. The flaw manifests in the graphics rendering subsystem where the library processes various image formats and graphical operations without proper null validation checks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves scenarios where libskia receives malformed or specially crafted image data that lacks proper null termination or validation. When the graphics processing code attempts to access pointers that were never properly initialized or have been set to null, the system experiences a crash due to attempting to dereference these invalid memory addresses. This type of error represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can be exploited through carefully constructed input payloads. The vulnerability requires user interaction for exploitation, typically through the presentation of malicious image content or web content that triggers the graphics rendering pipeline, making it a remote denial of service condition.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows attackers to induce system crashes on affected Android devices without requiring any special privileges or execution rights. The remote denial of service capability means that adversaries can potentially disrupt device functionality through web-based attacks or malicious content delivery mechanisms. The attack vector typically involves tricking users into viewing specially crafted content that triggers the vulnerable code path in libskia. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which covers Exploitation for Client Execution, specifically targeting application-level vulnerabilities in system components. The crash conditions can potentially be leveraged to cause persistent service disruption or even facilitate more complex attack chains if combined with other vulnerabilities.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9372 primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize deployment of the patched versions of libskia and the associated Android framework components. Additionally, implementing network-level filtering to block suspicious image content and employing sandboxing techniques for image processing can provide additional protective layers. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper null pointer validation in graphics libraries and emphasizes the need for comprehensive input validation throughout the software development lifecycle. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves adding proper null checks before pointer dereference operations and implementing more robust error handling mechanisms within the graphics processing pipeline.