CVE-2020-0189 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In ihevcd_decode() of ihevcd_decode.c, there is possible resource exhaustion due to an infinite loop. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-139939283
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0189 represents a critical resource exhaustion flaw within the ihevcd_decode function of the Android media decoding component. This issue resides in the ihevcd_decode.c source file where an infinite loop can occur during video decoding operations, specifically affecting the HEVC (H.265) video codec implementation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and loop boundary checking within the decoding logic, creating a scenario where malformed video content can trigger continuous execution without proper termination conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted malicious video files that, when processed by the affected Android media framework, cause the decoding function to enter an infinite loop. This condition consumes excessive CPU resources and memory allocation, ultimately leading to system instability and denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or execution rights for exploitation, making it accessible to any user who can trigger the video decoding process. The need for user interaction indicates that the attack vector typically involves the user opening or playing a specially crafted video file, which then initiates the vulnerable decoding path.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Android devices running version 10, as it can render the device unusable by consuming all available processing resources. The infinite loop prevents normal video playback operations and can potentially crash the entire media framework or cause system-wide resource exhaustion. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops or iterations without proper termination conditions, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for resource exhaustion attacks. The vulnerability affects the core media processing capabilities of Android devices, potentially impacting multimedia applications, video streaming services, and any functionality relying on HEVC video decoding.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0189 involve implementing proper input validation and loop termination mechanisms within the video decoding library. Android security patches should include bounds checking and timeout mechanisms to prevent infinite loop conditions during video processing. System-level protections should be implemented to monitor resource consumption during media decoding operations, with automatic termination of processes that exceed predefined resource thresholds. Additionally, input sanitization measures should validate video frame parameters and decoding state transitions to prevent malicious inputs from triggering the vulnerable code path. Organizations should prioritize applying the official Android security updates and consider implementing network-level filtering to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious video content to affected devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing components and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in codec implementations to prevent resource exhaustion attacks.