Advisory Details

This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on vulnerable installations of Google Android. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.

The specific flaw exists within the handling of installed applications. The issue lies in the lack of proper validation of a package prior to calling a method within it. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges to resources normally protected from the application.

This vulnerability is being disclosed publicly without a patch in accordance with the ZDI 120 day deadline.

11/14/18 - ZDI reported vulnerability to vendor
11/14/18 - Vendor acknowledged
01/27/19 - ZDI contacted vendor requesting a status update
02/06/19 - ZDI contacted vendor again requesting a status update
02/06/19 - Vendor replied stating they plan to publish an update by the end of February
02/08/19 - ZDI notified the vendor the case would be 0-dayed if a fix was not available by the end of February
03/04/19 - Vendor replied but did not provide ETA
03/06/19 - ZDI notified the vendor the intention to 0-day the reports

-- Mitigation:
Given the nature of the vulnerability the only salient mitigation strategy is to restrict interaction with the application to trusted files.

• 2018-11-15 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
• 2019-03-15 - Coordinated public release of advisory
• 2020-01-15 - Advisory Updated