CVE-2020-0197 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In InitDataParser::parsePssh of InitDataParser.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-137370379
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-0197 resides within the InitDataParser::parsePssh function of the InitDataParser.cpp file in Android 10 systems. This represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically manifests when processing protected media content through the parsing of PSSH (Protection System Specific Header) boxes which are integral components of media streams used in digital rights management implementations. The missing bounds check allows an attacker to potentially read memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, creating opportunities for information disclosure.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-129, which categorizes improper boundary checking issues that can lead to memory access violations. The flaw exists in the media processing pipeline where Android systems handle encrypted media content, particularly affecting the initialization data parsing mechanism that manages content protection headers. The security implications extend beyond simple information leakage as this type of vulnerability can potentially expose sensitive system information, encryption keys, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory regions. The absence of required bounds validation in the parsing routine creates a direct pathway for attackers to extract unintended data from memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for Android 10 devices, as it enables local information disclosure without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction for exploitation. This means that any application running with standard user permissions could potentially trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications share the same device. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious media content or manipulating existing media files to force the system into reading beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability affects the core media framework components that handle protected content, which is commonly used in streaming services, video applications, and other multimedia functionalities across Android devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the InitDataParser component. Android security patches typically address this by introducing proper bounds verification before memory access operations, ensuring that all buffer reads are validated against the actual size of allocated memory regions. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the relevant security updates that contain fixes for this specific memory access violation. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) when considering the potential for information gathering and subsequent exploitation pathways that could arise from successful exploitation of such memory corruption vulnerabilities.