CVE-2021-1030 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2021
In setNotificationsShownFromListener of NotificationManagerService.java, there is a possible way to determine whether an app is installed, without query permissions, due to side channel information disclosure. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-12Android ID: A-194697001
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-1030 resides within the Android notification management system, specifically in the setNotificationsShownFromListener method of NotificationManagerService.java. This flaw represents a significant information disclosure issue that allows attackers to determine the installation status of applications without requiring any special permissions or user interaction. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of notification state information that inadvertently reveals whether specific applications are present on the device. The security implications extend beyond simple application discovery, as this side channel attack vector could enable adversaries to gather intelligence about the target device's application landscape.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the notification system's design where the NotificationManagerService maintains state information about notification display events. When applications interact with the notification system, the service processes these interactions and potentially exposes information about installed applications through timing variations or other observable side channels. The flaw occurs because the system does not adequately sanitize or obscure notification state data when processing listener callbacks, creating a covert information channel that can be exploited by malicious applications. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper information disclosure, and demonstrates how seemingly benign system functionality can be weaponized for reconnaissance purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-1030 is substantial as it enables local information disclosure attacks that require no additional privileges or user interaction. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to enumerate installed applications on a target device, potentially mapping the user's application environment and identifying sensitive or potentially vulnerable applications. This reconnaissance capability could serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks, including targeting specific applications with known vulnerabilities or conducting social engineering operations based on discovered application usage patterns. The vulnerability affects Android 12 systems and represents a persistent threat since it operates at the system level without requiring elevated permissions, making it particularly concerning for privacy and security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper information sanitization within the notification management system, ensuring that notification state data does not leak information about installed applications. Android security updates typically address such issues by modifying the NotificationManagerService to obscure or normalize notification state information, preventing side channel attacks from occurring. Organizations should ensure timely deployment of security patches and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other system components that might expose application state information. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of applying the principle of least privilege and conducting thorough security reviews of system-level APIs that handle sensitive information, particularly those involving user interaction contexts. This issue demonstrates the critical need for security-conscious design in system services and the potential for seemingly innocuous functionality to create significant privacy and security risks.