CVE-2020-0301 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libstagefright, there is a possible resource exhaustion due to improper input validation. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-124940460
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0301 resides within the libstagefright component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 11 and earlier versions. This issue represents a resource exhaustion flaw that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the multimedia processing framework. The libstagefright library serves as a critical component responsible for handling multimedia files and streams, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its widespread use in media processing operations across Android devices.
The technical flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate input data during multimedia file processing, allowing maliciously crafted media files to trigger excessive resource consumption. This improper input validation creates a condition where resource allocation requests can be made without adequate bounds checking, potentially leading to memory exhaustion or other resource depletion scenarios. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the multimedia framework, specifically targeting how the system handles malformed or specially crafted media data during parsing and processing operations. This type of flaw typically falls under CWE-400 which categorizes resource exhaustion vulnerabilities as a critical concern in software security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a remote exploitation vector that can be triggered without requiring any special privileges or execution rights. An attacker can craft malicious media files that, when processed by a vulnerable Android device, will consume excessive system resources and potentially cause the device to become unresponsive or crash entirely. The requirement for user interaction indicates that the exploit typically involves the user opening or playing a malicious media file, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile environments where users frequently interact with multimedia content from untrusted sources. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes the use of resource exhaustion attacks to disrupt system availability.
The exploitation of CVE-2020-0301 demonstrates the inherent risks associated with multimedia frameworks in mobile operating systems, where the complexity of media processing algorithms combined with insufficient input validation creates opportunities for attackers to exhaust system resources remotely. This vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and resource management within system components that handle untrusted data. The impact is particularly significant for Android devices as they process numerous multimedia formats and streams, making the libstagefright component a frequent target for attackers seeking to disrupt mobile device functionality. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation mechanisms, establishing resource limits for media processing operations, and ensuring timely patch deployment across affected Android versions. The vulnerability highlights the critical need for comprehensive security testing of multimedia frameworks and the importance of addressing resource exhaustion issues in system-level components that handle user-supplied data.