CVE-2019-9410 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libavc 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-112204443
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9410 affects the libavc component within Android systems, specifically manifesting in Android 10 operating on devices with Android ID A-112204443. This issue represents a critical information disclosure flaw that stems from the improper handling of uninitialized data structures within the video decoding framework. The vulnerability resides in the Advanced Video Coding (AVC) implementation that processes video streams, creating a potential attack surface where sensitive information could be inadvertently exposed to unauthorized parties.
The technical flaw occurs when the libavc library processes video data without properly initializing certain memory structures or variables before use. This uninitialized data contamination can result in the leakage of sensitive information from system memory, including potentially confidential data that may have been previously stored in the affected memory locations. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, which directly maps to the core issue where the system fails to initialize variables before their first use, leading to information disclosure through memory contents that should remain private.
Exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, typically through the delivery of a malicious video file or stream that triggers the vulnerable code path within the libavc component. Attackers can craft specially designed video content that, when processed by the affected Android system, causes the uninitialized data to be exposed to the application layer or potentially to network communications. The remote information disclosure capability means that attackers can potentially extract sensitive data without requiring elevated privileges or additional execution capabilities beyond the initial user interaction. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005: Data from Local System, where adversaries can extract sensitive data from compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked data could potentially contain cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive system information that could be leveraged for further attacks. The fact that no additional execution privileges are needed for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning, as it can be triggered through standard user interactions with media content. This vulnerability affects the Android 10 operating system specifically, indicating that it was introduced in the video processing stack during the development cycle of that system version, potentially affecting millions of devices that rely on the libavc framework for video decoding operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on updating the affected Android system to versions that contain patches addressing this uninitialized data handling issue. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize the deployment of security updates that properly initialize memory structures within the libavc component. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid opening untrusted video content and to ensure their devices are running the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory initialization practices in security-critical components and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of media processing libraries to prevent similar information disclosure issues in the future.