CVE-2020-0192 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In ih264d_decode_slice_thread of ih264d_thread_parse_decode.c, there is a possible out of bounds read due to improper input validation. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-144687080
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0192 resides within the ih264d_decode_slice_thread function of the ih264d_thread_parse_decode.c file, representing a critical out-of-bounds read condition that affects Android 10 systems. This flaw occurs during the decoding process of h264 video streams where the decoder fails to properly validate input parameters before accessing memory locations. The issue stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that allow maliciously crafted video data to trigger unauthorized memory access patterns. According to the Android security advisory A-144687080, this vulnerability specifically impacts the hardware-accelerated video decoding component, making it particularly concerning for mobile devices that frequently process multimedia content from untrusted sources. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an Improper Validation of Array Index, which directly relates to the out-of-bounds memory access pattern. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges, meaning an attacker could potentially extract sensitive data from the device memory through specially crafted h264 video streams. The exploitation requires user interaction, typically through the delivery of malicious video content via email attachments, messaging applications, or web downloads, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios where users might inadvertently trigger the vulnerability.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2020-0192 leverages the inherent trust placed in video decoding components by the Android operating system, where the ih264d decoder processes incoming video data without sufficient input sanitization. When a malformed h264 slice is processed, the decoder's thread parsing mechanism fails to validate the slice parameters against expected boundaries, resulting in memory access beyond the allocated buffer. This memory access violation can potentially expose kernel memory contents, including sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers can craft malicious video files to exploit this weakness. The out-of-bounds read specifically targets the decoder's internal state management where slice parameters are used to determine memory access patterns, making it particularly challenging to detect through standard runtime protections. The vulnerability affects the hardware decoding pipeline, meaning that even when software-based decoding is disabled, the hardware component remains susceptible to exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0192 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the vulnerability could potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the Android ecosystem. Mobile devices running Android 10 are particularly vulnerable since this version includes the affected ih264d decoding library that lacks proper input validation mechanisms. The attack surface is broadened by the prevalence of multimedia content consumption on mobile platforms, where users frequently interact with videos from unknown or untrusted sources. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation can be automated, requiring minimal user interaction beyond opening a malicious video file, which significantly increases the risk of widespread compromise. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in multimedia processing components, as similar patterns have been observed in other video decoding libraries. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly those handling sensitive data on Android devices. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of the affected Android 10 systems, with security updates addressing the bounds checking mechanisms in the ih264d decoding library. System administrators should prioritize deployment of Android security patches, as the vulnerability's remote exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where mobile devices handle confidential information. The vulnerability's presence in hardware-accelerated decoding components also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device drivers and firmware components that interact with multimedia processing pipelines.