CVE-2024-49740
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a resource exhaustion vulnerability in Android that can cause crash loops, leading to local denial of service. Attackers can exploit this without user interaction or elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects Android devices running vulnerable versions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Android OS
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Persistent denial of service rendering the device unusable until reboot, potentially requiring factory reset if system components are affected.
Likely Case
Temporary service disruption affecting specific applications or system components until the crash loop is resolved.
If Mitigated
Minimal impact with proper resource monitoring and crash recovery mechanisms in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires crafting malicious input to trigger resource exhaustion. No authentication needed but requires local access or malicious app installation.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: March 2025 Android Security Patch or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2025-03-01
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Check for Android system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Apply the March 2025 security patch or later. 3. Verify patch installation in Settings > About phone > Android version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Resource monitoring and limits
allImplement resource usage monitoring and limits to prevent exhaustion scenarios
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict app vetting and only install applications from trusted sources
- Use mobile device management (MDM) solutions to monitor for abnormal resource consumption
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android version. If patch level is earlier than March 2025, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Android security patch level shows March 2025 or later in Settings > About phone > Android version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Frequent application crashes, system component restarts, abnormal resource consumption patterns in system logs
Network Indicators:
- None - this is a local vulnerability
SIEM Query:
Search for repeated crash events from Android system components or applications within short timeframes