CVE-2020-0164 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In phNxpNciHal_NfcDep_cmd_ext of phNxpNciHal_NfcDepSWPrio.cc, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-139736125
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0164 resides within the NFC (Near Field Communication) subsystem of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 10 implementations. This issue is classified as a missing bounds check in the phNxpNciHal_NfcDepSWPrio.cc source file, which is part of the NXP NFC HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) component. The flaw manifests in the phNxpNciHal_NfcDep_cmd_ext function where an out-of-bounds read condition can occur due to insufficient validation of input parameters. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the NFC communication protocol handler. When processing NFC data exchange commands, the system fails to validate array bounds before accessing memory locations, creating an opportunity for memory corruption. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which is a well-documented weakness in software security. The vulnerability specifically affects the NFC data exchange protocol where the system attempts to handle extended command responses without adequate bounds checking, potentially allowing an attacker to read memory locations beyond the intended array boundaries.
From an operational perspective, exploitation of this vulnerability requires local system privileges, meaning an attacker must already have execution rights on the device to leverage this weakness. The impact of this vulnerability includes potential information disclosure, where sensitive system data could be accessed through the memory read operations. This represents a significant risk to device security as NFC functionality is commonly used for payment processing, device authentication, and secure data transfer. The vulnerability's classification as a local information disclosure aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers data from local system storage, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreter usage for information gathering.
The exploitation of this vulnerability typically occurs during normal NFC operations when the system processes external NFC communication commands. Attackers could potentially use this weakness to extract sensitive information from system memory, including cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential data stored within the NFC subsystem. The Android security model relies heavily on proper bounds checking and memory management to prevent such issues, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it represents a failure in the core security mechanisms protecting NFC communications. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest security patches from Google and NXP, monitoring for suspicious NFC activity, and ensuring proper access controls are in place to limit potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input validation in security-critical subsystems and highlights the need for thorough security testing of hardware abstraction layers that interface with sensitive system components.