CVE-2020-0382 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In RunInternal of dumpstate.cpp, there is a possible user consent bypass due to an uncaught exception. This could lead to local information disclosure of bug report data with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-10Android ID: A-152944488
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2020-0382 resides within the Android system's dumpstate component, specifically in the RunInternal function of dumpstate.cpp. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that could potentially allow unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The issue manifests as a user consent bypass mechanism, where an unhandled exception prevents the proper validation of user permissions before accessing bug report data. The vulnerability affects Android versions 10 and 11, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these operating system versions. The Android ID A-152944488 indicates this was properly tracked and documented within Google's internal vulnerability management system. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-472 Unprotected Primary Resource, as it involves a primary system resource that lacks proper protection mechanisms to prevent unauthorized access through exception handling failures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the Android system's privilege management architecture. When the RunInternal function encounters an uncaught exception during the dumpstate process, the normal permission checking procedures are bypassed, allowing system-level processes to access bug report data without proper user consent. This occurs because the exception handling mechanism fails to properly terminate or redirect the execution flow when encountering unexpected conditions. The vulnerability requires system execution privileges to exploit effectively, meaning that an attacker would need to have already gained system-level access or be running code with elevated privileges. However, the bypass mechanism itself could potentially be leveraged by malicious actors to escalate their privileges or extract sensitive information from bug reports that typically contain detailed system diagnostics, user data, and application information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as bug reports generated by Android systems often contain comprehensive diagnostic information including user data, application states, system configurations, and potentially sensitive personal information. This could enable attackers to gather detailed intelligence about target devices, applications, and user behaviors, which could then be used for further exploitation or targeted attacks. The local nature of the vulnerability means that it can only be exploited from within the device itself, but this limitation does not reduce its severity given that system-level access often provides attackers with significant capabilities for lateral movement and data exfiltration. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082 System Information Discovery, as it enables unauthorized access to system information through compromised system processes. Additionally, this weakness contributes to the broader category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities that can be exploited to gain deeper access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper exception handling mechanisms within the dumpstate.cpp component to ensure that all potential error conditions are properly caught and handled before any sensitive data access occurs. Android security updates should include enhanced permission validation procedures that are not bypassed by exception handling failures, requiring that all system-level operations verify proper authorization before accessing sensitive data. System administrators and device manufacturers should ensure that all Android devices are updated to the latest security patches that address this specific vulnerability. The fix should involve comprehensive error handling that maintains proper access control even when unexpected conditions occur during the dumpstate process. Regular security audits of system components should be conducted to identify similar exception handling vulnerabilities that could potentially create bypass mechanisms for user consent requirements. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect unusual access patterns to system diagnostic data that could indicate exploitation of this or similar vulnerabilities.