CVE-2019-2131 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Android overlay permission vulnerability leading to local privilege escalation.

Understanding CVE-2019-2131

An application with overlay permission can exploit Android versions 7.0 to 9, potentially escalating privileges locally.

What is CVE-2019-2131?

Overlay permission allows displaying overlays on the settings UI, enabling privilege escalation without extra execution privileges.
User interaction is required for successful exploitation.

The Impact of CVE-2019-2131

Local escalation of privilege vulnerability affecting Android versions 7.0 to 9.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-2131

Vulnerability Description

Overlay permission misuse leading to local privilege escalation.

Affected Systems and Versions

Android versions 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, and 9.

Exploitation Mechanism

Application with overlay permission can display malicious overlays on top of the settings UI.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid granting overlay permission to untrusted applications.
Regularly monitor and review permissions granted to apps.

Long-Term Security Practices

Keep Android devices updated with the latest security patches.
Exercise caution while granting permissions to applications.
Use reputable app sources to minimize risks.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Android to address the vulnerability.