CVE-2020-0128 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In addPacket of AMPEG4ElementaryAssembler, there is an out of bounds read due to an integer overflow. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges required. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-123940919
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0128 resides within the AMPEG4ElementaryAssembler component of Android's media processing framework, specifically in the addPacket function where a critical out-of-bounds read occurs due to integer overflow conditions. This flaw exists in Android 10 operating system versions and is tracked under Android ID A-123940919. The vulnerability represents a significant security risk as it allows for remote information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for successful exploitation, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where media files are processed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic within the media packet assembly process. When processing MPEG-4 elementary stream packets, the addPacket function fails to properly validate or constrain integer values during calculations, leading to an integer overflow condition that subsequently causes an out-of-bounds memory read operation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-191 Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) and CWE-129 Improper Validation of Array Index, both of which are classified as critical weaknesses in software security. The integer overflow occurs when the calculation exceeds the maximum representable value for the integer type, causing the value to wrap around to a much smaller number, which then gets used as an array index or buffer offset.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0128 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially expose sensitive data stored in memory regions that are normally protected from direct access. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious MPEG-4 media files that trigger the integer overflow condition during packet processing, leading to the reading of adjacent memory locations that may contain confidential information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application data. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter where attackers can leverage media processing components to extract information from memory. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile devices where users frequently download and process media content from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0128 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Android 10 devices through official security updates provided by Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should implement network-based controls to filter and scan incoming media content for potentially malicious payloads before they reach end-user devices. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer overflow handling in media processing libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation in multimedia frameworks. Security teams should also monitor for similar patterns in other media processing components and consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect improper integer handling in third-party libraries used within media processing pipelines.