CVE-2019-9373 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In JobStore, there is a mismatched serialization/deserialization for the "battery-not-low" job attribute. This could lead to a local denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-130173029
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9373 resides within the Android JobStore component, specifically addressing a critical serialization and deserialization mismatch in how the "battery-not-low" job attribute is handled. This flaw exists in the Android 10 operating system and is tracked under Android ID A-130173029, representing a significant security concern that could be exploited without requiring any special privileges or user interaction. The issue stems from improper handling of job scheduling attributes within the Android system's background task management framework, which is designed to optimize battery usage and system performance.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inconsistent handling of the "battery-not-low" attribute during the serialization and deserialization processes within the JobStore. When jobs are scheduled with this specific attribute, the system fails to properly validate or maintain the integrity of the serialized data structure during the transition from storage to execution. This mismatch creates a potential for arbitrary code execution or system instability when the job scheduler attempts to process these malformed serialized objects. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the Android framework, specifically affecting the job scheduling mechanism that manages background tasks and their execution conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a local denial of service threat that can be exploited by any application running on the device without requiring additional privileges or user interaction. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate job scheduling infrastructure that is essential for system functionality, potentially causing the entire job scheduling system to crash or become unresponsive. This could result in the suspension of critical background processes, affecting system stability and user experience, while simultaneously creating a persistent denial of service condition that requires system reboot to resolve. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it could compromise the integrity of the entire job scheduling framework.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9373 primarily focus on system-level updates and patches provided by Google as part of the Android security releases. Organizations and users should ensure their Android 10 devices are updated to the latest security patches that address this specific serialization mismatch. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any unauthorized applications that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability by creating malicious job schedules. The fix typically involves correcting the serialization/deserialization logic within the JobStore component to ensure proper validation of the "battery-not-low" attribute during all stages of job processing. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-1210, which addresses serialization and deserialization issues in system components, and could potentially be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks that leverage system frameworks. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how improper input validation in system-level components can lead to critical security implications, emphasizing the importance of robust serialization handling in mobile operating systems.