CVE-2024-0037 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 02/16/2024
In applyCustomDescription of SaveUi.java, there is a possible way to view images belonging to a different user due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local information disclosure with User execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-0037 resides within the SaveUi.java file, specifically in the applyCustomDescription method where a critical permission validation flaw exists. This issue represents a classic access control weakness that allows unauthorized users to bypass intended security boundaries and access resources that should be restricted to specific user contexts. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly verify user permissions before exposing image resources, creating a path for information disclosure that directly violates fundamental security principles of least privilege and access control enforcement.
The technical implementation flaw stems from the absence of proper authorization checks within the applyCustomDescription method, which processes custom descriptions for saved content. When a user interacts with the save functionality and the system attempts to associate custom descriptions with images, the code does not validate whether the current user has legitimate access rights to the target image resources. This missing permission validation creates an information disclosure vulnerability that operates at the application logic level rather than at network or system boundaries, making it particularly insidious as it leverages legitimate application workflows to achieve unauthorized access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local information disclosure with the requirement of user execution privileges, meaning an attacker must already have a valid user account on the system to exploit this flaw. However, the impact is significant as it allows for cross-user data exposure where one authenticated user can potentially access and view images belonging to other users within the same application context. The exploitation requires no user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be automated and executed silently in the background, potentially leading to widespread data exposure across multiple user accounts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-285, which addresses improper authorization in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege that should govern all access control mechanisms. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, specifically targeting the T1078 method of valid accounts and T1566 for credential access through application vulnerabilities. The lack of user interaction requirements for exploitation places this vulnerability in a high-risk category as it can be leveraged by attackers who have already gained user-level access to the system, potentially leading to further compromise through data exfiltration.
The recommended mitigations include implementing comprehensive permission checks within the applyCustomDescription method to verify user ownership or explicit access rights before allowing image access. Security controls should enforce proper access control lists that validate user context against resource ownership, ensuring that all operations within the save functionality validate authorization before proceeding. Additionally, the application should implement proper logging mechanisms to detect and alert on unauthorized access attempts, while also considering the implementation of automated access control validation frameworks that can be integrated into the application's security architecture. Regular security code reviews and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar permission validation gaps throughout the application codebase, particularly in areas involving user-generated content management and resource sharing mechanisms.