CVE-2020-0101 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In BnCrypto::onTransact of ICrypto.cpp, there is a possible information disclosure due to uninitialized data. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10Android ID: A-144767096
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0101 resides within the BnCrypto::onTransact function of the ICrypto.cpp file within Android's cryptographic subsystem. This flaw represents a classic case of uninitialized memory access that can potentially expose sensitive information to unauthorized parties. The issue manifests in Android versions 8.0 through 10, affecting a significant portion of the mobile ecosystem where cryptographic operations are handled through the Binder IPC mechanism. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-457 as "Use of Uninitialized Variable" which directly impacts the integrity and confidentiality of cryptographic operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the onTransact function processes transactions without properly initializing memory structures before using them. This uninitialized data can contain remnants from previous operations, potentially including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive information that was previously stored in the same memory locations. When the system returns data to callers through the Binder interface, this uninitialized memory content may be inadvertently exposed, creating a information disclosure vector. The vulnerability requires system-level execution privileges to exploit effectively, indicating that it operates at a privileged level within the Android security model where the cryptographic service runs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to the security of Android devices as it can lead to local information disclosure that might compromise cryptographic operations. An attacker with system-level privileges could potentially extract sensitive data from memory, which could then be used to break cryptographic protections or gain deeper system access. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as it undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the cryptographic subsystem. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android versions from 8.0 to 10 suggests it was a persistent flaw that required patching across several security releases, indicating its severity and the importance of proper memory initialization practices in security-critical code.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0101 should focus on ensuring proper memory initialization practices within the cryptographic subsystem and implementing robust input validation for all operations. Android security patches typically address such issues by initializing memory variables before use and implementing proper sanitization of data structures. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant Android security updates and monitoring for similar patterns in other cryptographic implementations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 as it involves data from local system storage, and T1059 for potential command execution through system-level privileges. Security teams should also consider implementing memory integrity checks and monitoring for unusual data access patterns that might indicate uninitialized memory usage. The fix typically involves ensuring that all memory allocated for cryptographic operations is properly initialized before any cryptographic processing occurs, preventing the leakage of sensitive information through memory artifacts.