CVE-2020-0494 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2020
In ih264d_parse_ave of ih264d_sei.c, there is a possible out of bounds read due to a heap buffer overflow. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-11Android ID: A-152895390
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-0494 represents a critical heap buffer overflow flaw within the ih264d_parse_ave function of the ih264d_sei.c file in Android's media processing subsystem. This issue manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs during the parsing of H.264 video sequences, specifically when handling SEI (Supplemental Enhancement Information) data within the video stream. The vulnerability resides in the hardware-accelerated video decoding component that processes multimedia content, making it particularly concerning given the widespread use of video playback functionality across Android devices.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of SEI messages within H.264 video streams. When the ih264d_parse_ave function processes certain malformed or crafted SEI data, it fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. This flaw maps directly to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which is classified as a common weakness in memory safety and is frequently exploited in remote code execution scenarios. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through the processing of malicious video content without requiring any special privileges or execution capabilities from the attacker.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-0494 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a potential vector for remote exploitation that could be leveraged by adversaries to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. The vulnerability affects Android 11 devices and is tracked under Android ID A-152895390, indicating it was specifically identified and addressed within Google's security framework. The requirement for user interaction suggests that exploitation would typically occur when a user opens or plays a maliciously crafted video file, making it particularly dangerous in social engineering scenarios where users might be tricked into viewing compromised content. This vulnerability could potentially allow attackers to extract sensitive information from memory, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential data stored in the application's memory space.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must address both the immediate security risk and the broader implications for Android device security. Organizations should prioritize the deployment of the latest Android security patches that contain fixes for this specific heap buffer overflow. The patch implementation typically involves enhanced bounds checking mechanisms within the ih264d_parse_ave function to prevent unauthorized memory access. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious video content and establish monitoring protocols to detect unusual media processing activities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and information gathering, as it could be used to extract sensitive information from vulnerable systems. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing components, which should be reinforced through comprehensive code review processes and adherence to secure coding standards.