CVE-2019-9375 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In hostapd, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a race condition. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-129344244
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9375 represents a critical race condition flaw within the hostapd wireless access point daemon implementation in Android systems. This issue manifests as a potential out of bounds write condition that can be exploited to achieve local privilege escalation. The vulnerability exists in the Android 10 operating system with the specific Android ID A-129344244, indicating its presence in the Android security framework. The race condition occurs during the processing of wireless network management operations where concurrent access to shared memory regions creates opportunities for memory corruption.
The technical flaw stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within hostapd's implementation, specifically when handling wireless network configuration updates and authentication processes. When multiple threads or processes attempt to modify shared data structures simultaneously, the race condition allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations. This out of bounds write operation can corrupt critical data structures including process control blocks, memory management tables, or privilege level indicators. The vulnerability requires system execution privileges for exploitation, meaning an attacker must already have some level of access to the device to leverage this flaw effectively.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to Android devices running version 10. Local privilege escalation allows an attacker who has already gained access to the system to elevate their privileges to the system level, potentially gaining complete control over device operations. The exploitation does not require user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically during normal device operation or network management activities. The race condition typically occurs during wireless network authentication or reconfiguration processes, which are frequent operations in mobile environments where devices constantly connect and disconnect from wireless networks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-367, which specifically addresses time-of-check to time-of-use (TOCTOU) race conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. The implementation weakness in hostapd's thread synchronization mechanisms creates a window where memory operations can occur outside of proper bounds checks. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability is particularly challenging to detect and exploit reliably due to its dependency on precise timing and system state conditions. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper locking mechanisms, memory bounds checking, and ensuring thread-safe operations during wireless network management processes. The Android security team has addressed this issue through system updates and patches that strengthen the synchronization protocols within hostapd, requiring device manufacturers to implement these security updates to protect against exploitation attempts.