CVE-2024-27232 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2024
In asn1_ec_pkey_parse of asn1_common.c, there is a possible OOB read due to a missing null check. This could lead to local information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-27232 represents a critical out-of-bounds read condition within the ASN.1 elliptic curve public key parsing functionality of a cryptographic library. This flaw exists specifically in the asn1_ec_pkey_parse function located within the asn1_common.c source file, where the implementation fails to perform adequate null termination checks during data processing. The absence of proper boundary validation creates an exploitable scenario where maliciously crafted ASN.1 encoded elliptic curve public keys could trigger memory access violations that reveal sensitive information from adjacent memory locations. This vulnerability operates at the core of cryptographic operations and directly impacts the integrity of public key parsing mechanisms used in secure communications protocols.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate input validation within the ASN.1 parsing routine that processes elliptic curve public key structures. When the function processes encoded public key data, it does not properly verify that string or buffer boundaries are properly terminated with null characters before performing memory reads. This missing null check creates a condition where the parser may read beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially accessing uninitialized memory segments or data from adjacent variables. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds read operation that occurs during the parsing of elliptic curve parameters, specifically when handling the coordinate values and curve parameters embedded within the ASN.1 structure. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-125 weakness category for out-of-bounds read conditions, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue in software development practices.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to extract sensitive cryptographic information from memory. While exploitation requires no additional privileges or user interaction, the local information disclosure could reveal cryptographic keys, private data, or other sensitive parameters that may be stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability affects systems that process ASN.1 encoded elliptic curve public keys, which are commonly used in TLS/SSL certificates, digital signatures, and various cryptographic protocols. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to reconstruct private key information or other confidential data that may be stored in memory alongside the parsed public key structures. The implications are particularly severe in environments where cryptographic operations are performed with sensitive data, as the information disclosure could compromise the security of entire cryptographic implementations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-27232 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and boundary checking mechanisms within the ASN.1 parsing routines. The most effective approach involves adding proper null termination checks before any memory read operations occur during public key parsing, ensuring that all buffer operations respect defined boundaries and memory limits. Security patches should address the root cause by modifying the asn1_ec_pkey_parse function to validate input data integrity and implement robust error handling for malformed ASN.1 structures. Organizations should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and memory corruption detection mechanisms to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1552.004 for unsecured credentials and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as it provides a potential pathway for information extraction that could be leveraged in broader attack chains. Regular security audits and code reviews focusing on memory safety practices are essential to prevent similar out-of-bounds read conditions in cryptographic implementations.