CVE-2020-0102 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In GattServer::SendResponse of gatt_server.cc, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an incorrect bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10Android ID: A-143231677
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0102 resides within the Bluetooth GATT server implementation of Android operating systems, specifically affecting versions 8.0 through 10. This issue manifests in the GattServer::SendResponse function located in the gatt_server.cc source file, representing a critical security flaw that could enable local privilege escalation. The vulnerability stems from an improper bounds checking mechanism that fails to adequately validate input parameters before performing memory operations, creating a scenario where malicious code could manipulate memory boundaries to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical flaw constitutes an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the Bluetooth GATT server processes response messages. During normal operation, the system receives and processes Bluetooth Low Energy GATT (Generic Attribute Profile) responses from connected devices. However, the flawed bounds checking logic does not properly validate the size or content of incoming data structures, allowing an attacker with user-level execution privileges to craft malicious GATT responses that exceed allocated memory boundaries. This memory corruption vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-129, specifically categorized as an Improper Validation of Array Index weakness, where the system fails to validate that array indices are within acceptable ranges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical security boundaries, as it requires only user execution privileges for exploitation rather than elevated system access. An attacker could potentially leverage this flaw by establishing a Bluetooth connection to a vulnerable Android device and sending specially crafted GATT responses that trigger the memory corruption. Once exploited, the vulnerability could enable local privilege escalation, allowing the malicious application to gain system-level privileges and potentially access sensitive data, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors. This represents a significant threat vector given the widespread adoption of Bluetooth connectivity in modern mobile devices and the prevalence of user-level applications that could potentially exploit this condition.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques under the Privilege Escalation category, specifically targeting the T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level within the Bluetooth stack, which typically runs with elevated privileges to handle device communications. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for affected Android versions, implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms in the Bluetooth GATT server implementation, and establishing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries. Additionally, security researchers recommend monitoring Bluetooth connection patterns and implementing application sandboxing to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while the affected Android versions should receive urgent security updates to address the improper bounds validation in the GattServer::SendResponse function.