CVE-2019-9409 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libhevc there is a possible information disclosure due to uninitialized data. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-112272091
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9409 affects the libhevc library component within Android systems, specifically Android 10. This issue represents a critical information disclosure flaw that stems from the improper handling of uninitialized data structures during HEVC video decoding operations. The vulnerability exists within the hardware-accelerated video decoding framework where the libhevc library processes high-efficiency video coding streams without properly initializing memory regions before use. According to the Android security advisory A-112272091, this flaw allows for potential information leakage that could be exploited remotely without requiring any special execution privileges or root access. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, typically through the deliberate triggering of a malicious HEVC video file or stream that would cause the vulnerable library to process uninitialized memory contents.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables in software systems. In the context of video decoding libraries, uninitialized data can contain remnants of previous operations, memory allocations, or system state information that should not be exposed to the application layer. When libhevc processes HEVC frames, it may read from memory locations that were not properly initialized, potentially exposing sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, system memory contents, or application data from previous operations. The uninitialized memory regions could contain data from previously processed video frames, system buffers, or other internal state information that should remain confidential. This information disclosure could be particularly severe in environments where the video decoder handles sensitive content or operates in security-critical contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9409 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a remote attack vector that can be leveraged by adversaries to gather intelligence about target systems. Attackers could craft malicious HEVC video content that, when opened by an affected Android device, would trigger the uninitialized data exposure. The requirement for user interaction means that social engineering or phishing techniques might be necessary to deliver the malicious content, but once executed, the vulnerability could provide attackers with access to system memory contents, potentially including encryption keys, authentication tokens, or other sensitive data. The lack of additional execution privileges required for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it reduces the attack surface and complexity needed for successful exploitation. This flaw could be especially dangerous in enterprise environments where Android devices handle confidential corporate data or in applications that process sensitive multimedia content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-9409 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Android users and administrators should prioritize updating to the latest security patches released by Google, which would include fixes for the libhevc library and related video decoding components. The patching process should be comprehensive, covering not just the primary operating system but also any third-party applications or services that might be using the vulnerable video decoding libraries. Organizations should implement network-level controls to monitor and restrict the ingestion of HEVC video content from untrusted sources, particularly in environments where the vulnerability could be exploited. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns in video processing or memory access that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper memory initialization practices in multimedia libraries and the need for comprehensive security testing of hardware-accelerated components. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1059 for execution through media decoding and T1005 for data from local system information, making it a significant concern for organizations implementing comprehensive threat detection strategies.