CVE-2020-0094
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation on Android devices through an out-of-bounds write in the ExifUtils library. Attackers can exploit this without user interaction to gain elevated privileges. Only Android 9 and 10 devices are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete device compromise allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with system privileges, potentially installing persistent malware or accessing sensitive data.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation allowing malicious apps to break out of sandbox and access system resources or other apps' data.
If Mitigated
No impact if patched; unpatched devices remain vulnerable to local privilege escalation attacks.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local app execution but no user interaction. Public exploit details available in security bulletins.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Patch Level 2020-05-01 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2020-05-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in Settings > System > Advanced > System update. 2. Install May 2020 security patch or later. 3. Reboot device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable unknown sources
androidPrevent installation of untrusted apps that could exploit this vulnerability
Settings > Security > Install unknown apps > Disable for all apps
Use app verification
androidEnable Google Play Protect to scan for malicious apps
Settings > Security > Google Play Protect > Scan device for security threats
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices from sensitive networks and data
- Implement strict app whitelisting policies to prevent untrusted app installation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version and security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android versionCheck Version:
Settings > About phone > Android version and Android security patch levelVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level is May 2020 or later in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual privilege escalation attempts in system logs
- Apps requesting unexpected permissions
Network Indicators:
- Not applicable - local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Not applicable for typical SIEM deployment as this is local device exploitation