CVE-2020-0277 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In NetworkPolicyManagerService, there is a possible permissions bypass due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege allowing a malicious app to modify the device's data plan with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-148627993
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0277 resides within the NetworkPolicyManagerService component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 11 releases. This flaw represents a critical security oversight that enables unauthorized privilege escalation through a missing permission check mechanism. The vulnerability operates at the system level where network policy management services fail to properly validate authorization credentials before allowing modifications to device data plans. Such a weakness creates a pathway for malicious applications to manipulate core network configurations without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction, fundamentally undermining the Android security model's principle of least privilege.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access control validation within the NetworkPolicyManagerService framework. When applications attempt to modify data plan configurations through the network policy management interface, the service does not adequately verify whether the calling process possesses the necessary permissions to perform such operations. This missing permission check creates a direct attack vector that allows any application to bypass normal security boundaries and execute privileged network management functions. The flaw specifically affects how the system validates authorization contexts when processing network policy modification requests, enabling unauthorized code execution within the system's privileged security domain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential data plan manipulation and unauthorized network configuration changes. A malicious application exploiting this vulnerability could modify data usage limits, alter network access policies, and potentially redirect network traffic through unauthorized channels. This capability allows attackers to consume network resources without user knowledge, potentially leading to billing complications and unauthorized data transmission. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited silently in the background, enabling persistent surveillance or data exfiltration activities that remain undetected by standard security monitoring systems.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through system weaknesses. The vulnerability demonstrates how insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms can create pathways for attackers to elevate their privileges within mobile operating systems. Security researchers have noted that such flaws often represent the result of incomplete security reviews during system development phases, where core service components fail to properly implement mandatory access controls. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader mobile security assessments, particularly when evaluating network management and policy enforcement capabilities within their mobile device management frameworks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0277 require immediate system updates and security patches from device manufacturers and Google. Users should ensure their Android devices receive the latest security updates, particularly those addressing network policy management services. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for unauthorized network policy changes and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can detect anomalous network behavior. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive permission auditing and access control validation within system services, emphasizing that all privileged operations should require explicit authorization checks before execution. Organizations should also review their mobile security policies to ensure that network management functions are properly isolated and that appropriate security controls are in place to prevent unauthorized access to critical system components.