CVE-2020-0293 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Java network APIs, there is possible access to sensitive network state due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-141455849
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0293 represents a critical security flaw within the Java network APIs of Android 11 systems, specifically manifesting as a missing permission check that enables unauthorized access to sensitive network state information. This vulnerability resides in the core networking components of the Android operating system, where proper access controls have been omitted, allowing malicious applications or processes to retrieve network configuration data without the necessary authorization. The flaw fundamentally undermines the principle of least privilege by permitting information disclosure through network state queries that should be restricted to authorized entities only.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation within the network state access mechanisms of the Android framework. When applications attempt to query network information through Java network APIs, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting entity possesses the appropriate permissions to access such sensitive data. This missing permission check creates an information disclosure pathway that operates at the system level, where network state details including IP addresses, network interfaces, routing information, and connection status data can be accessed without requiring additional privileges or user interaction. The vulnerability operates at the application programming interface level, specifically affecting the network management components that handle network state queries and information retrieval operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Android device security as it enables local information disclosure without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gather sensitive network configuration data that could be used for further attacks, including network reconnaissance, targeting specific network vulnerabilities, or establishing more sophisticated attack vectors. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as the gathered network state information could reveal network topology, routing information, and connection details that might be exploited by adversaries to plan more targeted attacks. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user awareness or consent.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, specifically focusing on insufficient permission checks that allow unauthorized access to system resources. This weakness represents a classic example of privilege escalation through missing access controls, where the system fails to properly enforce authorization mechanisms for sensitive network state information. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1082, which involves discovery of system information, as attackers can use this flaw to gather network configuration data for reconnaissance purposes. Additionally, the vulnerability could facilitate other attack techniques such as T1046 for network service scanning and T1590 for reconnaissance planning, as the disclosed network information provides valuable intelligence for subsequent attack phases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0293 should focus on implementing proper permission validation within the Java network APIs and ensuring that all network state queries require appropriate authorization tokens or credentials. System administrators and developers should ensure that Android 11 devices are updated with the latest security patches that address this missing permission check. Organizations should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized network state queries and establish proper access control policies that limit which applications can query network information. The recommended approach involves strengthening the permission model within the Android framework to ensure that network state information access requires explicit authorization, thereby preventing unauthorized disclosure of sensitive network configuration data. Regular security assessments should be conducted to verify that proper access controls are in place and that no additional permission checks have been bypassed or inadvertently disabled.