CVE-2020-0443 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/10/2020
In LocaleList of LocaleList.java, there is a possible forced reboot due to an uncaught exception. This could lead to local denial of service requiring factory reset to restore with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11 Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9 Android-10Android ID: A-152410253
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0443 resides within the LocaleList implementation in Android's system framework, specifically within the LocaleList.java file. This issue represents a critical fault in the operating system's handling of locale configurations that can result in unexpected system behavior. The flaw manifests as an uncaught exception during locale processing, which can trigger a complete system reboot without proper error handling mechanisms. This vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including Android 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10, and 11, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The technical nature of this vulnerability places it under CWE-476, which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions that can lead to system instability and denial of service scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially require factory reset procedures for system recovery. This represents a significant degradation in user experience and system reliability, as users may encounter unexpected reboots during normal operation without any visible indication of the underlying cause. The requirement for factory reset indicates that the system state becomes corrupted to such an extent that normal recovery mechanisms are insufficient. This vulnerability operates with User execution privileges, meaning that exploitation does not require elevated access rights, making it particularly concerning as it can be triggered by any user with standard account permissions. The lack of user interaction requirement for exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing malicious code through legitimate system interfaces without direct user involvement.
From a security perspective, this vulnerability creates an attack surface that can be leveraged for persistent denial of service attacks against Android devices. The forced reboot capability can be abused to repeatedly disrupt device functionality, potentially causing data loss or service unavailability for extended periods. The fact that this occurs in LocaleList processing suggests that the vulnerability might be triggered through various system configuration changes or locale switching operations that users perform regularly. This makes the attack vector particularly stealthy and difficult to detect, as the trigger conditions may appear to be normal system operations. The vulnerability's classification as a local denial of service means that attackers do not need network access or remote exploitation capabilities, making it accessible through local system interactions or potentially through compromised applications that can manipulate locale settings. The Android security model's handling of such exceptions demonstrates a gap in defensive programming practices where proper exception handling should prevent system-level crashes and reboots from occurring due to malformed input or processing errors.