CVE-2020-0417
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows local privilege escalation on Android devices by bypassing permissions through an empty mutable PendingIntent in the GPS network-initiated handler. It affects Android versions 8.1, 9, and 10, requiring user execution privileges but no user interaction for exploitation.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
An attacker could gain elevated system privileges, potentially accessing sensitive data, modifying system settings, or installing malicious apps without user consent.
Likely Case
Local attackers with limited access could escalate privileges to compromise device integrity or steal user data.
If Mitigated
With proper patching, the risk is eliminated; without patching, device isolation and minimal user privileges reduce impact.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and user execution privileges, but no public proof-of-concept is known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Android Security Bulletin July 2021 patches
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2021-07-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in device settings. 2. Apply the July 2021 Android security patch. 3. Restart the device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable GPS network-initiated features
androidReduce attack surface by disabling GPS services that use network-initiated functionality, though this may impact location services.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict physical and local access to devices to minimize attack opportunities.
- Implement strict app permissions and monitor for unusual privilege escalation attempts.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android version in Settings > About phone > Android version; if it is 8.1, 9, or 10 and not patched with July 2021 updates, it is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.releaseVerify Fix Applied:
Verify the Android security patch level is July 2021 or later in Settings > About phone > Android security patch level.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Look for logs related to GpsNetInitiatedHandler or unexpected permission changes in system logs.
Network Indicators:
- No specific network indicators, as exploitation is local.
SIEM Query:
Not applicable due to local nature; focus on device logs for privilege escalation events.