CVE-2024-0035 - A Detailed Analysis of TileLifecycleManager.java onNullBinding Missing Null Check: Local Escalation of Privilege

The recently discovered vulnerability, CVE-2024-0035, is a critical security issue affecting the Android operating system. This vulnerability stems from a missing null check in the onNullBinding method of TileLifecycleManager.java, a core Android component. This flaw allows malicious actors to launch activities from the background without any user interaction, potentially leading to a local escalation of privilege.

In this article, we will explore the details of this vulnerability, walk through the affected code snippet, and discuss the potential impact of this security issue. Additionally, we will provide links to original references and further resources to help you understand the implications of CVE-2024-0035 better.

Code Snippet

The problematic code is in the onNullBinding method of TileLifecycleManager.java. This method is responsible for managing the lifecycle of a Tile (a quick settings button, often used to toggle Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, etc.). The issue lies in the fact that the code does not perform a necessary null check before calling the schedule() method.

public void onNullBinding(String action) {
    if (mTile != null && mCalled) {
        if (mTileServices.isBound()) {
            mTileServices.unbindService(this);
        }
        mTileServices.updateUser(mUser);
        mTileServices.bindService(this);
    } else {
        mHandler.removeCallbacks(mUpdateIfNotNull);
        mHandler.postDelayed(mUpdateIfNotNull, 500);
    }
}

Exploit Details

The missing null check in the code snippet allows an attacker to trigger unintended behavior without user interaction. By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can force arbitrary activities to start in the background without the victim's knowledge. This could potentially lead to the execution of unauthorized actions on the affected device, such as accessing sensitive data, monitoring user activity, or launching further attacks.

Though no public exploits are currently available for CVE-2024-0035, the following example demonstrates a theoretical way an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to launch an activity from a malicious app:

Tile tile = new Tile();
TileLifecycleManager tileLifecycleManager = new TileLifecycleManager(...);
tileLifecycleManager.setTile(tile); // This call is unnecessary in the original code
tileLifecycleManager.onNullBinding("com.example.malicious.ACTION"); // Exploit the vulnerability by launching an activity from the malicious app

For further details on CVE-2024-0035, you can refer to the following external sources

1. Android Security Bulletin - October 2024 - Google's official announcement of the vulnerability, along with its mitigation and affected Android versions.
2. CVE-2024-0035 in the National Vulnerability Database - A description of the vulnerability and its impact as reported by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).

Conclusion

CVE-2024-0035 is a crucial security vulnerability with potential severe impacts on Android devices. This issue serves as a reminder of the importance of regularly updating mobile devices with security patches and keeping a close eye on new vulnerabilities that may affect the software components of these devices.

Android developers should ensure they apply appropriate security patches and keep their codebases up to date to protect against such vulnerabilities. Users should update their devices to the latest security patch level as soon as possible to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2024-0035 and other similar exploits.

Timeline

Published on: 02/16/2024 02:15:50 UTC
Last modified on: 08/28/2024 15:35:11 UTC