CVE-2020-0404 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In uvc_scan_chain_forward of uvc_driver.c, there is a possible linked list corruption due to an unusual root cause. This could lead to local escalation of privilege in the kernel with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android kernelAndroid ID: A-111893654References: Upstream kernel
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0404 resides within the Linux kernel's USB video class driver implementation, specifically in the uvc_scan_chain_forward function located in uvc_driver.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that could enable local privilege escalation without requiring any special execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. The vulnerability manifests through a linked list corruption anomaly that originates from an unusual root cause within the driver's code structure.
The technical implementation flaw occurs when the uvc_scan_chain_forward function processes USB video class device scan chains, where improper handling of linked list operations leads to memory corruption. This corruption happens during the forward scanning process of USB video class devices, which are typically used for webcams and other video capture devices. The unusual root cause suggests that the vulnerability stems from an unexpected interaction between device enumeration, memory management, and linked list traversal mechanisms within the USB video class driver subsystem.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Android devices running kernel versions affected by the issue. The local privilege escalation capability means that any user-level process could potentially exploit this flaw to gain kernel-level privileges, effectively bypassing all user-mode security controls. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any user consent or awareness. The Android ID A-111893654 indicates this was specifically tracked within Google's Android security framework, highlighting its impact on mobile device security.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting kernel-level vulnerabilities that allow local users to gain administrative privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-119 which describes improper access to memory, and more specifically relates to CWE-121 which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The linked list corruption aspect also connects to CWE-476 which addresses null pointer dereference issues, though the specific manifestation here involves corruption rather than simple dereference.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel updates from device manufacturers, particularly Android vendors who must incorporate the upstream kernel fixes into their device-specific kernel implementations. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize deployment of patched kernel versions as soon as they become available through official channels. Users should avoid installing untrusted applications that might exploit this vulnerability, though the nature of the flaw means that even legitimate applications could potentially trigger the corruption. The fix typically involves proper bounds checking and memory management within the uvc_scan_chain_forward function to prevent the linked list corruption that leads to privilege escalation.
This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of thorough code review for kernel subsystems that handle device enumeration and memory management operations. The fact that it affects the USB video class driver highlights how seemingly specialized device drivers can contain fundamental memory management flaws that impact system security. The upstream kernel reference indicates that the fix was implemented at the kernel level, requiring device vendors to update their kernel implementations rather than just application-level patches. Organizations should implement regular kernel update schedules and maintain awareness of security advisories from kernel maintainers and Android security teams to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in their environments.