CVE-2020-0427

What it actually does

Use-after-free in create_pinctrl leads to out-of-bounds kernel memory read, enabling local information disclosure without privileges or user interaction.

Why it matters to the business

Attackers on the same device can silently read sensitive kernel data such as credentials or encryption keys, increasing risk of further compromise on Android and Linux-based systems.

How an attack unfolds

A local attacker runs code that invokes the pinctrl creation path, triggering the use-after-free to read adjacent kernel memory structures and exfiltrate the contents.

How to fix it

Apply the latest vendor kernel security updates that address A-140550171; rebuild and deploy custom kernels with the fix if using modified Android or Linux distributions listed in affected products.

How to confirm the fix worked

Confirm kernel builds contain the patch for the use-after-free in core.c; run static analysis or fuzzing against pinctrl creation paths to verify absence of the flaw.

Typical attack path

1. Obtain local execution context on an affected device
2. Trigger the vulnerable pinctrl allocation and free sequence
3. Perform out-of-bounds read to harvest kernel memory contents
4. Exfiltrate disclosed data for further attacks

How to detect it

Review kernel logs and audit trails for unusual pinctrl-related crashes or memory access patterns; correlate with local process activity on affected systems.

What your security team should do

• Prioritize patching Android devices and Linux kernels in the affected product list
• Monitor vendor security bulletins for backported fixes
• Restrict untrusted local code execution where possible until patches are applied