Android Security

Google releases December 2019 Android Security Bulletin and Google Device Images

Google has released the December 2019 Android Security Bulletin, giving carriers and device makers a fresh set of patches to install.

Though Google puts out the Android security patches each month, the job of actually getting the fixes to end users falls on the telcos and/or device manufacturers themselves. Those partners vary in their ability to release the patches in a timely fashion.

The December bulletin has two security patch levels to provide Android partners with the flexibility to more quickly fix a subset of vulnerabilities that are similar across all Android devices.

  • 01-12-2019: Partial security patch level string. This security patch level string indicates that all issues associated with 01-12-2019 (and all previous security patch level strings) are addressed.
  • 05-12-2019: Complete security patch level string. This security patch level address all issues associated with the 05-12-2019 security patch level and all previous patch levels.
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The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in the Framework component that could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted message to cause a permanent denial of service. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are turned off for development purposes or if successfully bypassed.

Alongside the bulletin, Google have released a security update to Google devices through an over-the-air (OTA) update. The Google device firmware images have also been released to the Google Developer site. Security patch levels of December 5, 2019 or later address all of these issues.

The tables below contains a list of security vulnerabilities, the Common Vulnerability and Exposures ID (CVE), the assessed severity, and whether or not Google devices are affected. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are disabled for development purposes or if successfully bypassed.

Android and Google Service Mitigation’s

This is a summary of the mitigation’s provided by the Android security platform and service protections such as Google Play Protect. These capabilities reduce the likelihood that security vulnerabilities could be successfully exploited on Android.

  • Exploitation for many issues on Android is made more difficult by enhancements in newer versions of the Android platform. All users are encouraged to update to the latest version of Android where possible.
  • The Android security team actively monitors for abuse through Google Play Protect and warns users about Potentially Harmful Applications. Google Play Protect is enabled by default on devices with Google Mobile Services, and is especially important for users who install apps from outside of Google Play.
  • Android 10 introduces Google Play system updates (Project Mainline) which expedites how updates can be delivered to Android devices with Google Mobile Services. The Android Security Bulletin identifies security issues which are remediated through Google Play system updates

Terminology

You will find different types of vulnerabilities listed. Possible types include:

  • RCE—Remote code execution
  • EoP—Elevation of privilege
  • ID—Information disclosure
  • DoS—Denial of service

01-12-2019 security patch level—Vulnerability details

Framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted message to cause a permanent denial of service.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2019-2232 A-140632678 DoS Critical 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10
CVE-2019-9464 A-141028068 EoP High 10
CVE-2019-2217 A-141003796 EoP High 10
CVE-2019-2218 A-141169173 EoP High 10
CVE-2019-2220 A-138636979 ID High 9, 10
CVE-2019-2221 A-138583650 EoP Moderate 10

Media framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2019-2222 A-140322595 RCE Moderate 10
RCE Critical 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2019-2223 A-140692129 RCE Moderate 10
RCE Critical 8.0, 8.1, 9

System

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of an unprivileged process.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2019-2224 A-140328986 RCE High 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10
CVE-2019-2225 A-110433804 EoP High 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10
CVE-2019-2226 A-140152619 ID High 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10
CVE-2019-2227 A-140768453 ID High 9, 10
CVE-2019-2228 A-111210196 ID High 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10
CVE-2019-2229 A-139803872 ID High 8.0, 8.1, 9, 10
CVE-2019-2230 A-141170038 ID High 10

Google Play system updates

These security issues are included in Google Play system updates.

Component CVEs
Media Codecs CVE-2019-2222, CVE-2019-2223

05-12-2019 security patch level—Vulnerability details

Framework

The vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to bypass operating system protections that isolate sensor data from other applications.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2019-2219 A-119041698 ID High 9, 10

System

The vulnerability in this section could enable a local attacker with privileged access to gain access to sensitive data.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2019-2231 A-141955555 ID High 9, 10

Kernel components

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process.

CVE References Type Severity Component
CVE-2018-20961 A-139522588
Upstream kernel
EoP High USB MIDI class function driver
CVE-2019-15220 A-140329469
Upstream kernel
EoP High Prism54 WiFi USB Driver
CVE-2019-15239 A-140328996
Upstream kernel
EoP High TCP Stack

Qualcomm components

These vulnerabilities affect Qualcomm components and are described in further detail in the appropriate Qualcomm security bulletin or security alert. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Qualcomm.

CVE References Type Severity Component
CVE-2019-10557 A-78657016
QC-CR#2255369
QC-CR#2259707
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2018-11980 A-140423440
QC-CR#2270117
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10480 A-140423811
QC-CR#2309399
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10481 A-140423794
QC-CR#2304610
QC-CR#2318632
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10536 A-140423334
QC-CR#2433802
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10537 A-140423693
QC-CR#2436502
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10595 A-140423810
QC-CR#2148184
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10598 A-140423155
QC-CR#2324139
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10601 A-140423156
QC-CR#2428798
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10605 A-140424124
QC-CR#2187441
N/A High WLAN host
CVE-2019-10607 A-140423690
QC-CR#2211711
N/A High Security
CVE-2019-2304 A-123238115
QC-CR#2331868
QC-CR#2335530
QC-CR#2348299
QC-CR#2203904
N/A High WLAN host

Qualcomm closed-source components

These vulnerabilities affect Qualcomm closed-source components and are described in further detail in the appropriate Qualcomm security bulletin or security alert. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Qualcomm.

CVE References Type Severity Component
CVE-2019-2242 A-123998200 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10500 A-134437248 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10525 A-134437319 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10482 A-132108950 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10487 A-134437030 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10516 A-134437075 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2019-2274 A-134437362 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10513 A-134437225 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10517 A-140424724 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2019-10600 A-140424089 N/A High Closed-source component

Full details of the December 2019 Android Security Bulletin are available here.