CVE-2019-2215: Android Kernel Use‑After‑Free Allows Privilege Escalation
What It Is — A use‑after‑free flaw in the Android kernel’s binder.c driver that can be leveraged to elevate an application’s privileges to the Linux kernel level.
Exploitability — Publicly demonstrated in the “AbstractEmu” exploit chain together with CVE‑2020‑0041 and CVE‑2020‑0069; CVSS v3.1 base score 8.8 (High).
Affected Products — Android operating system on smartphones, tablets, and embedded devices running kernel versions prior to the vendor’s 2020 patch.
Why It Matters for Trust & Control Assurance
- Continuous verification of endpoint patch levels provides concrete evidence for access‑control assurance.
- Timely remediation of privilege‑escalation flaws supports a defensible audit trail required by governance frameworks.
- Mobile‑device‑management (MDM) programs must demonstrate enforcement of a secure baseline to maintain buyer confidence.
Recommended Actions
- Deploy the latest Android security update to all managed devices.
- Enforce MDM policies that block installation of apps from untrusted sources and require a minimum OS version.
- Integrate kernel‑integrity monitoring into your endpoint‑security stack to detect anomalous binder activity.
- Document remediation steps and retain logs as evidence for control‑assurance reviews.
Source: CISA KEV – CVE‑2019‑2215