CVE-2026-0177 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
In do_sss_aes_gcm_256_op of crypto-aes.c, there is a possible out-of-bounds read due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local information disclosure with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/16/2026
The vulnerability identified in the do_sss_aes_gcm_256_op function within crypto-aes.c represents a critical memory safety issue characterized by an out-of-bounds read condition. This flaw stems from a missing bounds check during the execution of Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) operations using Galois/Counter Mode (GCM). In cryptographic implementations, particularly those handling authenticated encryption like AES-GCM, precise control over data boundaries is essential to prevent accessing memory locations outside the intended buffer limits. The absence of this validation allows an attacker or a malicious process to trigger read operations that extend beyond the allocated memory space for ciphertext, plaintext, or authentication tags. This type of error falls squarely under CWE-125, which defines out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where software reads data past the end or before the beginning of the intended buffer.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability facilitates local information disclosure with significant severity implications. Because the flaw resides in a cryptographic routine likely invoked by system-level processes, exploitation requires System execution privileges. This means that while the attacker must already have elevated access to trigger the condition, the resulting impact is severe due to the nature of the data leakage. An out-of-bounds read can expose sensitive kernel memory contents, including encryption keys, session tokens, or other confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions. The fact that user interaction is not required for exploitation further increases the risk profile, as automated scripts or background processes could potentially trigger this condition without any direct human intervention, making it suitable for persistent backdoor establishment or continuous data exfiltration within a compromised system environment.
The technical mechanics of AES-GCM involve complex bitwise operations and finite field arithmetic that process input data in blocks. When the bounds check is omitted, the cryptographic engine may continue reading from memory addresses that were not allocated for the current operation. This can lead to the leakage of uninitialized memory or previously used sensitive data into the output stream or internal registers. Such leaks undermine the confidentiality guarantees provided by AES-GCM and can aid attackers in performing further attacks against the system's security posture. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005, which covers Data from Local System, specifically under sub-techniques related to application data harvesting through memory scraping or buffer over-reads that expose internal state information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on rigorous input validation and defensive programming practices within the cryptographic library. Developers should implement explicit length checks before initiating any AES-GCM operations to ensure that all input buffers, including ciphertext, plaintext, and authentication tags, fall strictly within their allocated boundaries. Additionally, employing static analysis tools capable of detecting memory safety violations during the development phase can help identify such omissions early in the software lifecycle. For deployed systems, applying vendor-provided patches is the primary remediation step. Furthermore, implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) can mitigate the impact of exploitation by making it more difficult for attackers to predict memory layouts or execute arbitrary code based on leaked information. Regular security audits focusing on cryptographic implementations are essential to maintain robust defense-in-depth against these types of low-level memory corruption vulnerabilities.