CVE-2019-9462 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Bluetooth, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-91544774
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-9462 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Bluetooth implementation of Android 10 systems. This issue stems from an improper bounds check during Bluetooth protocol processing, specifically affecting how the system handles incoming Bluetooth packets and data structures. The flaw exists within the Bluetooth stack where insufficient validation occurs when processing malformed or specially crafted Bluetooth frames, leading to memory access violations that can be triggered remotely without requiring any user interaction or elevated privileges.
This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which is a fundamental flaw in input validation mechanisms. The technical nature of this issue allows attackers to construct malicious Bluetooth packets that, when processed by vulnerable Android devices, cause the system to attempt reading memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through passive monitoring of Bluetooth traffic, potentially affecting any device within range that has Bluetooth enabled and is running Android 10.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9462 manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can render Bluetooth functionality completely inoperable on affected devices. When exploited, the out-of-bounds read causes the Bluetooth subsystem to crash or terminate unexpectedly, requiring manual restart of the Bluetooth service or complete device reboot. This creates a persistent availability issue that can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt communication services, potentially affecting emergency services, IoT device connectivity, or any Bluetooth-dependent applications. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for remote code execution through network services, though in this case it results in denial of service rather than arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which include corrected bounds checking mechanisms within the Bluetooth stack. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these updates across all Android 10 devices, particularly those in critical environments where Bluetooth connectivity is essential. Additional protective measures include implementing Bluetooth radio disablement when not in use, network segmentation to limit Bluetooth exposure, and monitoring for unusual Bluetooth traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in network protocol implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of wireless communication stacks. Security teams should also consider implementing device monitoring solutions that can detect Bluetooth service disruptions and alert on potential exploitation attempts, as this type of vulnerability can serve as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks targeting the broader Bluetooth ecosystem.