CVE-2019-9432 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Bluetooth, there is a possible out of bounds read due to improper input validation. This could lead to remote information disclosure in the Bluetooth server with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-80546108
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9432 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Bluetooth implementation of Android 10 systems. This security weakness resides in the Bluetooth server component where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to trigger memory access violations that could result in unauthorized information disclosure. The vulnerability specifically affects the Android operating system version 10 and is catalogued under Android ID A-80546108, highlighting its significance within the mobile platform security landscape.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper validation of input data received through Bluetooth protocols, creating a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious packets that cause the Bluetooth server to access memory locations beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses improper validation of array indices and other input validation errors that can lead to memory corruption and information disclosure. The flaw operates at the protocol level within the Bluetooth stack, where the server component fails to properly sanitize incoming data before processing it, allowing for arbitrary memory reads that could expose sensitive system information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote exploitation without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction to initiate the attack. This characteristic makes it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where Bluetooth is frequently used for device connectivity and data transfer. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract confidential information from the Bluetooth server memory, potentially including system credentials, device identifiers, or other sensitive data that could be used for further exploitation or lateral movement within a network. The lack of user interaction requirements means that devices could be compromised simply by being in proximity to an attacker's device, making this a particularly stealthy threat vector.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046 which involves network service scanning and exploitation of network protocols. The Bluetooth protocol family presents unique attack surfaces that can be leveraged for information gathering and privilege escalation attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Android security patches, enabling Bluetooth security features such as secure pairing protocols, and monitoring network traffic for suspicious Bluetooth activity. Additionally, network segmentation and device isolation strategies should be considered to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation in network protocol implementations and serves as a reminder of the security challenges inherent in wireless communication stacks where attackers can exploit protocol-level flaws to gain unauthorized access to system resources.