CVE-2020-0266 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In factory reset protection, there is a possible FRP bypass due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-111086459
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0266 resides within the factory reset protection mechanism of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 11 implementations. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that undermines the fundamental integrity of device protection measures designed to prevent unauthorized access following factory resets. The vulnerability manifests as a missing permission check within the factory reset protection framework, creating an exploitable pathway that allows malicious actors to bypass intended security controls.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient authorization validation within the factory reset protection subsystem. When a device undergoes factory reset, the system should enforce strict permission controls to ensure that only authorized users can bypass the protection mechanisms. However, in this case, the absence of proper permission verification enables unauthorized entities to manipulate the reset process and gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability operates at the system level where the factory reset protection mechanism fails to properly validate whether the requesting entity possesses the necessary credentials or authorization to perform bypass operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe local escalation of privilege scenario where attackers can gain elevated system access without requiring additional execution privileges or user interaction. The lack of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any manual intervention from the device owner. This characteristic aligns with attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting system-level access controls that should normally prevent unauthorized modifications to device security settings.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally compromises the device's security posture during critical system operations. When factory reset protection is bypassed, attackers can potentially access encrypted data, modify system configurations, and establish persistent access points that would normally be prevented by the protection mechanisms. This vulnerability affects the core security model of Android devices, undermining the trust model that users rely upon when performing factory resets, which are typically considered secure operations.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement within Android's security architecture. The missing permission check indicates a design flaw in the authorization validation process that should have been implemented at multiple levels of the system. Organizations implementing Android-based solutions should consider this vulnerability as a critical risk requiring immediate attention, particularly in environments where device security is paramount and unauthorized access could result in significant data breaches or system compromise. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and represents a clear violation of proper authorization mechanisms that should protect system integrity during sensitive operations.