CVE-2020-0353 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libmp4extractor, there is a possible resource exhaustion due to a missing bounds check. 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-124777526
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0353 resides within the libmp4extractor component of Android systems, specifically affecting Android 11 installations. This flaw represents a critical resource exhaustion issue that stems from an inadequate bounds check implementation within the media processing framework. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes maliciously crafted mp4 media files, where the absence of proper input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory allocation patterns and consume excessive system resources.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length parameters, and CWE-770, which covers allocation of resources without proper limits. The libmp4extractor library fails to validate the size parameters of mp4 file structures before attempting to allocate memory for processing these elements. When an attacker crafts an mp4 file containing malformed size fields that appear legitimate but exceed reasonable allocation limits, the extractor proceeds to allocate memory based on these deceptive values, leading to resource exhaustion.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk as it enables remote denial of service attacks requiring no elevated privileges or execution rights. The attack vector operates through user interaction, meaning an individual must open or process a maliciously crafted mp4 file for exploitation to occur. This interaction requirement reduces the attack surface compared to fully autonomous exploits but still represents a substantial security concern given the prevalence of multimedia file sharing across various platforms. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affecting system stability and user experience across all Android 11 devices.
The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion. This vulnerability specifically targets the media processing subsystem, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently encounter multimedia content from untrusted sources. The exploitability characteristics suggest that this vulnerability could be leveraged in phishing campaigns, malicious file sharing, or social engineering attacks where users might inadvertently trigger the resource exhaustion condition.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate system updates from Android security patches, which address the missing bounds check by implementing proper input validation and resource allocation limits. Organizations should also implement network-level filtering to prevent the transmission of potentially malicious media files, particularly in enterprise environments where users may encounter untrusted content. Additionally, device administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the processing of media files from unknown sources. The recommended remediation approach aligns with defensive programming principles that emphasize input validation and resource management as fundamental security controls. Regular security assessments should verify proper implementation of bounds checking in media processing components, ensuring that similar vulnerabilities do not exist in related libraries or subsystems.