CVE-2020-0348 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In NFC, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote information disclosure over NFC with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-139188582
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0348 resides within the Near Field Communication (NFC) subsystem of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 11 releases. This security flaw represents a classic out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the NFC service fails to properly validate input data before processing it. The vulnerability manifests as a missing bounds check in the NFC handling code, which allows an attacker to manipulate NFC data in a way that triggers memory access violations. The flaw is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through NFC communication channels, requiring only System execution privileges for successful exploitation. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability especially dangerous as it can be triggered automatically when NFC devices come into proximity with maliciously crafted NFC tags or devices.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking in software implementations. The flaw occurs within the NFC subsystem's data processing pipeline where incoming NFC data is not adequately validated against expected boundaries before being accessed in memory. This allows an attacker to craft specially formatted NFC data that, when processed by the vulnerable Android system, causes the NFC service to read memory locations beyond the intended data buffer. The out-of-bounds read can potentially expose sensitive information from system memory, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to detect in normal usage scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0348 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks within the Android security model. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to system information that could be used for privilege escalation or to facilitate further exploitation attempts. The requirement for System execution privileges indicates that the vulnerability can be exploited in scenarios where an attacker has already gained some level of system access, potentially through other means. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where Android devices might be compromised through different attack vectors, as it provides a mechanism for extracting additional sensitive data from the system. The remote exploitation capability through NFC channels means that attackers can potentially compromise devices from a distance, especially in scenarios where NFC is enabled and devices are in proximity to malicious NFC infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the NFC subsystem and ensuring that all incoming NFC data is thoroughly validated before processing. Android security patches addressing this issue would typically include enhanced input validation routines and memory access controls within the NFC service components. Organizations should ensure that all Android devices are updated with the latest security patches and that NFC functionality is appropriately configured based on risk assessments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in mobile operating systems, particularly in subsystems that handle external input data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under techniques involving information gathering and privilege escalation, as it enables adversaries to extract sensitive information from system memory. Device administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring for unusual NFC communication patterns to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of mobile device configurations and NFC-related services should be conducted to ensure that the system remains resilient against similar vulnerabilities in the future.