CVE-2019-9411 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-112204845
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9411 resides within the libavc library component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 10 installations. This issue represents a critical information disclosure weakness that stems from the improper handling of uninitialized data structures. The flaw manifests in the way the library processes certain video codec operations, creating potential pathways for sensitive information exposure. The vulnerability's classification as a possible information disclosure indicates that attackers could potentially extract confidential data from system memory through carefully crafted exploitation techniques.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the uninitialized data handling within the libavc library's video processing functions. When the library processes certain video streams or codec operations, it fails to properly initialize memory buffers before use, creating potential information leakage scenarios. This uninitialized data could contain remnants of previous operations, system credentials, encryption keys, or other sensitive information that persists in memory locations. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction, suggesting that an attacker would need to convince a victim to perform a specific action such as opening a malicious media file or visiting a compromised website. This interaction requirement reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as social engineering techniques can be highly effective in convincing users to engage with malicious content.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9411 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks when combined with other vulnerabilities. Remote exploitation capabilities mean that attackers could potentially access sensitive information from devices without requiring physical access or elevated privileges. The vulnerability's presence in libavc, which is a core component of Android's multimedia processing stack, creates widespread implications across various applications and services that rely on video processing capabilities. This includes not only standard media playback applications but also communication apps, social media platforms, and enterprise applications that handle multimedia content. The lack of additional execution privileges needed for exploitation makes this vulnerability particularly concerning as it reduces the attack complexity and increases the likelihood of successful compromise.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK framework's information gathering techniques, where adversaries may leverage uninitialized data issues to extract sensitive information from memory. The Common Weakness Enumeration classification for this type of vulnerability would likely fall under CWE-457, which addresses use of uninitialized variables, though the specific memory exposure aspect may also relate to CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment through Android security updates, as well as implementing network-level controls to monitor and block suspicious media content. Organizations should also consider application whitelisting approaches to restrict access to potentially malicious media files and implement comprehensive monitoring for unusual data access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious media content and verifying sources before interaction, given the user interaction requirement for exploitation.