CVE-2020-0196 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In RegisterNotificationResponse::GetEvent of register_notification_packet.cc, there is a possible abort due to improper input validation. This could lead to remote denial of service of the Bluetooth service, over Bluetooth, with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-144066833
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0196 resides within the Bluetooth service implementation of Android 10 systems, specifically in the RegisterNotificationResponse::GetEvent function located in the register_notification_packet.cc source file. This flaw represents a critical security issue that can be exploited remotely through Bluetooth connections without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability manifests as a potential abort condition caused by inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Bluetooth protocol handling code, creating a pathway for malicious actors to disrupt Bluetooth services on affected devices.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of input parameters during the Bluetooth service registration process. When the system processes notification responses from Bluetooth devices, the GetEvent method fails to adequately validate the incoming data structures, potentially leading to unexpected program termination or system abort conditions. This type of flaw falls under CWE-248, which specifically addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions where programs fail to handle exceptional circumstances properly. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" through the exploitation of service vulnerabilities that can be remotely triggered without user interaction.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for Android 10 devices as it enables remote denial of service attacks against the Bluetooth service itself. Attackers can leverage this weakness to disrupt Bluetooth connectivity and services on target devices, effectively rendering Bluetooth functionality unavailable. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption since Bluetooth is fundamental to numerous device operations including wireless audio streaming, device pairing, and various IoT connectivity functions. The lack of requirement for additional execution privileges or user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user awareness or consent, creating a persistent threat vector for attackers targeting mobile devices.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0196 primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their Android security updates. Organizations and users should immediately install the latest Android 10 security patches that contain fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and Bluetooth access controls can provide additional layers of protection by limiting the exposure of Bluetooth services to potential attackers. Security monitoring should include detection of anomalous Bluetooth service behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in system services and highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of protocol handling code. This issue also underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date security patches across mobile device fleets, as the vulnerability affects the core Bluetooth service functionality that is essential for device operation and user connectivity.