CVE-2009-0607 in Android SDK
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in malloc_leak.c in Bionic in Open Handset Alliance Android 1.0 have unknown impact and attack vectors, related to the (1) chk_calloc and (2) leak_calloc functions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0607 resides within the Bionic libc implementation used in early Android versions, specifically affecting the malloc_leak.c component that handles memory allocation leak detection. This issue manifests as integer overflows in two critical functions: chk_calloc and leak_calloc, which are designed to monitor and report memory allocation patterns for debugging purposes. The flaw occurs during the calculation of memory requirements for allocation operations, where integer overflow conditions can lead to unexpected behavior in memory management. These functions are part of the debugging infrastructure that helps developers identify memory leaks, but their implementation contains mathematical overflow vulnerabilities that can be exploited to manipulate memory allocation decisions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic in memory calculation routines. When the chk_calloc and leak_calloc functions process allocation requests, they perform calculations that can exceed the maximum representable value for the integer data type used in the computation. This overflow condition can cause the system to allocate insufficient memory or to interpret memory addresses incorrectly, potentially leading to memory corruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it exists within the core memory management layer that is fundamental to all application execution on the Android platform, making it a critical component of the system's security posture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory management issues, as it represents a potential path for privilege escalation and system instability. An attacker who can control the parameters passed to these functions might be able to cause the system to allocate memory in unexpected locations or manipulate memory layout patterns. This could lead to memory corruption that might be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. The unknown attack vectors suggest that multiple exploitation paths may exist, potentially through various application interfaces that interact with the memory allocation system. The vulnerability affects Android 1.0, which was the initial version of the Android operating system, making it a significant concern for early adopters and legacy systems that may still be in use.
The implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and resource exhaustion. The flaw represents a foundational security issue in the Android platform's memory management system, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate core system functions through carefully crafted memory allocation requests. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their comprehensive security assessment of Android systems, particularly when evaluating legacy deployments or systems that have not received subsequent security updates. Mitigation strategies should focus on updating to newer Android versions where these memory management flaws have been addressed, implementing proper input validation for memory allocation parameters, and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough code review processes for system-level components that handle critical resource management functions.