CVE-2020-0286 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Bluetooth AVRCP, there is a possible leak of audio metadata due to residual data. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-150214479
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0286 resides within the Bluetooth Audio Video Remote Control Profile (AVRCP) implementation in Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 11 builds. This security flaw represents a critical information disclosure issue that stems from improper handling of audio metadata during Bluetooth audio streaming operations. The vulnerability manifests as a data leakage mechanism where residual information from previous audio sessions persists in memory or buffer structures, potentially exposing sensitive metadata to unauthorized parties.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability can be classified under CWE-200, which deals with exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. In the context of Bluetooth AVRCP, when audio devices establish connections and exchange metadata such as track titles, artist names, album information, and other audio-related data, the system fails to properly clear or overwrite residual data structures. This occurs during the transition between different audio streams or when connections are terminated, leaving behind fragments of previous metadata that can be accessed through subsequent Bluetooth communication protocols. The flaw exists in the Bluetooth stack implementation where memory management routines do not adequately sanitize data buffers, creating opportunities for information leakage.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0286 extends beyond simple metadata exposure, as it represents a potential vector for broader reconnaissance activities within Bluetooth-enabled environments. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability could gather detailed information about users' audio preferences, listening habits, and potentially sensitive content metadata without requiring any user interaction or elevated privileges. This remote information disclosure capability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1046, which covers network service scanning, and T1059, covering command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers could leverage the leaked metadata to build profiles of user behavior. The vulnerability affects all Android 11 devices and potentially earlier versions that implement the affected Bluetooth AVRCP stack, creating widespread exposure across numerous mobile devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate system updates from Google, as the primary fix involves patching the Bluetooth stack implementation to ensure proper memory sanitization during connection transitions. Organizations should implement Bluetooth device access controls and consider disabling unnecessary Bluetooth features when not actively needed. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in wireless communication protocols and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of Bluetooth implementations. Network administrators should monitor for unusual Bluetooth activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while device manufacturers should implement additional sanitization routines in their Bluetooth stack implementations to prevent similar residual data leakage issues in future deployments.