CVE-2020-0100 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In onTransact of IHDCP.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds read due to incorrect error handling. This could lead to local information disclosure of data from a privileged process with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.1 Android-8.0Android ID: A-150156584
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0100 resides within the Android operating system's framework, specifically in the onTransact method implementation of the IHDCP.cpp file. This represents a critical security flaw that exploits improper error handling mechanisms to potentially access sensitive data from privileged processes. The issue manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition, which occurs when the system attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during inter-process communication operations. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which falls within the broader category of memory safety issues that can lead to information disclosure and privilege escalation scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the Android Binder IPC (Inter-Process Communication) mechanism, where the IHDCP interface handles HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) related operations. When the onTransact method processes incoming transactions, it fails to properly validate input parameters and buffer boundaries before attempting to read data. This incorrect error handling allows an attacker to craft malicious transactions that can cause the system to read beyond intended memory limits, potentially exposing sensitive information from privileged processes. The vulnerability does not require any user interaction for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered automatically through system-level operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables local information disclosure without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. An attacker with local access to an Android device can potentially extract sensitive data from privileged processes that normally would be protected from unauthorized access. This could include cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, personal user data, or other confidential information that should remain isolated within secure system processes. The vulnerability affects Android versions 8.0 and 8.1, representing a substantial portion of devices that were still in use during the time this vulnerability was discovered, thereby increasing the potential attack surface considerably.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0100 should focus on implementing proper bounds checking and error handling within the affected system components. Android security patches would typically involve strengthening the validation mechanisms in the onTransact method to ensure that all buffer accesses are properly bounded and validated before execution. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the official Android security updates that address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for privilege escalation and T1005 for data collection, making it particularly concerning for threat actors seeking to extract sensitive information from compromised Android devices. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous IPC behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.