CVE-2024-0042: Google Android Auth Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2024-0042 Overview

CVE-2024-0042 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android that allows local bypass of Digital Rights Management (DRM) content protection. The flaw stems from improper use of cryptography that causes confusion between Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) certificates and DRM certificates [CWE-295]. An attacker with local access and low privileges can exploit this issue without user interaction. Google addressed the issue in the Android Security Bulletin April 2024.

Critical Impact
Local attackers can bypass DRM content protection on affected Android devices without elevated privileges or user interaction.

Affected Products

Google Android (see Android Security Bulletin April 2024 for specific versions)
Devices using affected DRM components with OEM certificate validation
Android builds prior to the April 2024 security patch level

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-07 - CVE-2024-0042 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-0042

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Android's certificate validation logic for DRM operations. The implementation fails to correctly distinguish between OEM certificates and DRM certificates during cryptographic operations. This certificate confusion enables a local attacker to present a certificate of one type where another is expected.

As a result, content protection mechanisms enforced through DRM can be bypassed. The flaw is categorized under [CWE-295] Improper Certificate Validation. Exploitation requires local access and low privileges but no user interaction.

Root Cause

The root cause is improperly used cryptography in the certificate verification path. Code that processes certificates does not enforce a strict separation between the OEM and DRM certificate trust contexts. When the validation routine accepts a certificate without binding it to the correct intended purpose, the trust model breaks.

This is a logic flaw in cryptographic validation rather than a memory corruption issue. The affected component name is listed as TBD in the public advisory, indicating the specific module was not disclosed in the CVE record.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local code execution context on the target Android device with low privileges. An attacker leverages the certificate confusion to present an OEM-signed artifact in a DRM context, or vice versa. The DRM subsystem then treats the artifact as trusted and grants access to protected content.

No user interaction is required, and the attack runs entirely within the local device boundary. Refer to the Android Security Bulletin April 2024 for component-level technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-0042

Indicators of Compromise

Unauthorized access to DRM-protected media content on Android devices running pre-April 2024 patch levels
Unexpected DRM license acquisition events originating from non-privileged local processes
Presence of OEM certificates being used in DRM certificate verification flows

Detection Strategies

Audit Android device patch levels and flag devices below the April 2024 security patch level
Monitor application behavior for processes that interact with DRM APIs without legitimate playback context
Review mobile device management (MDM) telemetry for tampering with system certificate stores

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize Android device patch compliance reporting through enterprise mobility management tooling
Alert on attempts to access mediadrm or related DRM service interfaces from untrusted applications
Correlate DRM error logs with installed application inventory to detect anomalous certificate handling

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-0042

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the April 2024 Android security patch level or later on all managed devices
Identify devices that cannot receive the April 2024 patch and restrict their access to sensitive content
Enforce minimum patch level policies through mobile device management platforms

Patch Information

Google released a fix as part of the Android Security Bulletin April 2024. Devices must be updated to the 2024-04-01 security patch level or later. Original equipment manufacturers publish their own update schedules, so verify vendor-specific availability for each device model in the fleet.

Workarounds

Restrict installation of untrusted applications that could obtain local execution context
Disable side-loading of Android Package Kit (APK) files on enterprise-managed devices
Limit access to DRM-protected content from devices that have not received the April 2024 patch

bash

# Verify the Android security patch level on a connected device
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patch
# Expected output: 2024-04-01 or later