Attacking Android Binder: Analysis and Exploitation of CVE-2023-20938 - #CVE-2023-20938
A major use-after-free vulnerability (CVE-2023-20938) in the Android Binder device driver was discovered and exploited by Google's Android Red Team, allowing them to gain root privileges on fully updated Android devices. The vulnerability affected all devices using specific kernel versions and resided in the complex Binder IPC mechanism. The team detailed their exploitation process, which involved manipulating reference counters, obtaining memory read/write primitives, and modifying critical kernel structures to disable security measures and escalate privileges. Patches were released through Android's security update process, and the team acknowledged contributors while providing contact information for further inquiries.