CVE-2020-0401 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In setInstallerPackageName of PackageManagerService.java, there is a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege and granting spurious permissions with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10 Android-11Android ID: A-150857253
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0401 resides within the Android operating system's package management framework, specifically in the setInstallerPackageName method of PackageManagerService.java. This flaw represents a critical permission bypass issue that undermines the security model of the Android platform by allowing unauthorized modification of package installation metadata. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10, and 11, indicating it has persisted across several major releases and represents a significant security gap in the system's access control mechanisms.
The technical flaw manifests as a missing permission check within the PackageManagerService component, which is responsible for managing application installations and maintaining package integrity. When the setInstallerPackageName method is invoked without proper authorization verification, it allows malicious applications or processes to manipulate the installer package name associated with installed applications. This represents a direct violation of Android's security architecture where the system should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized modification of package metadata. The vulnerability falls under CWE-284, which specifically addresses improper access control issues in software systems, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers the exploitation of local privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any user interaction or additional execution privileges. An attacker with local access to an Android device can exploit this flaw to grant spurious permissions to malicious applications, effectively bypassing the normal permission granting mechanisms that protect user privacy and system security. This means that a malicious application could potentially modify the installer package name of other applications, leading to unauthorized privilege elevation and the ability to install or modify applications with elevated permissions. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any human intervention, representing a significant threat to device security and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-0401 should focus on implementing proper permission checks within the PackageManagerService component and ensuring that only authorized processes can invoke the setInstallerPackageName method. Android security updates typically address such issues by adding comprehensive access control checks and validating the calling process permissions before allowing package metadata modifications. Organizations and users should prioritize applying the latest security patches from Google and monitoring for any unauthorized changes to package installation metadata. Additionally, implementing mobile device management solutions that can detect anomalous package modification activities and maintaining regular security audits of installed applications can help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining robust access controls in system-level components and demonstrates how seemingly minor permission gaps can lead to significant security breaches in mobile operating systems.