CVE-2019-9378 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In the Activity Manager service, there is a possible permission bypass due to incorrect permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-124539196
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9378 resides within the Activity Manager service of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 10 and earlier versions. This represents a critical security flaw that allows for local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. The vulnerability stems from an improper permission check implementation within the system's core service management framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass intended security controls.
The technical flaw manifests as an insufficient validation mechanism within the Activity Manager service that fails to properly verify the privileges of processes attempting to perform sensitive operations. This permission bypass vulnerability operates at the system level where legitimate applications or malicious code can exploit the flawed permission checking logic to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it does not require any user interaction, meaning an attacker can exploit it automatically once they have gained access to a device, either through legitimate user access or through other attack vectors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe threat landscape for Android devices as it allows for complete system compromise without additional attack surfaces. An attacker who can execute code on a device can leverage this vulnerability to gain root access, enabling them to modify system files, install malicious applications, access all user data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The implications extend beyond individual device security to enterprise environments where compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader network attacks, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on Android-based devices.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control, and maps to attack techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation tactics. Specifically, this flaw enables techniques such as privilege escalation to system level through service manipulation and exploitation of system-level vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Android security patches, conducting comprehensive security assessments of their Android device fleets, and monitoring for suspicious system-level activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and device management policies should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of compromised devices within enterprise environments, while security teams should closely monitor for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability in their threat intelligence feeds.