CVE-2020-0109 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In simulatePackageSuspendBroadcast of NotificationManagerService.java, there is a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege by creating fake system notifications with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-9 Android-10Android ID: A-148059175
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0109 resides within the Android notification system, specifically in the simulatePackageSuspendBroadcast method of the NotificationManagerService.java component. This flaw represents a critical permission bypass issue that undermines the Android security model's fundamental principle of least privilege. The vulnerability exists in Android versions 9 and 10, affecting a significant portion of the mobile device ecosystem where users interact with system notifications on a daily basis.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing permission check within the notification management service, allowing malicious applications to simulate package suspension broadcasts without proper authorization. This method operates within the system-level notification manager service, which typically requires elevated privileges to manipulate system notifications and broadcast events. The absence of proper permission validation creates an exploitable pathway where any application can craft and dispatch fake system notifications that appear to originate from legitimate system components. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-284 access control weakness category, specifically representing improper access control within the Android framework's notification subsystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple notification manipulation, creating a potential pathway for local privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to deceive users into believing that system notifications originate from trusted sources, potentially enabling social engineering attacks or malicious payload delivery. Since no user interaction is required for exploitation, the vulnerability can be automatically triggered by malicious applications running in the background. The attack vector operates entirely within the application sandbox, requiring no additional execution privileges or root access, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation across Android devices. This vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves the use of privilege escalation techniques through legitimate system tools and services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0109 should focus on implementing proper permission validation within the NotificationManagerService.java component. Android security patches should enforce strict access controls on the simulatePackageSuspendBroadcast method, ensuring that only system-level processes or applications with appropriate privileges can invoke this functionality. Device manufacturers and security teams should prioritize the deployment of security updates that address this access control weakness, particularly for devices running Android 9 and 10 versions. Users should be advised to install all available security updates promptly, as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction, making proactive patch management essential for maintaining system integrity. The fix should align with Android's security architecture principles and maintain backward compatibility while strengthening the permission model for system notification handling.