CVE-2015-0573 in Linux
Summary
by MITRE
drivers/media/platform/msm/broadcast/tsc.c in the TSC driver for the Linux kernel 3.x, as used in Qualcomm Innovation Center (QuIC) Android contributions for MSM devices and other products, allows attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid pointer dereference) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted application that makes a TSC_GET_CARD_STATUS ioctl call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0573 resides within the TSC driver component of the Linux kernel version 3.x series, specifically affecting Qualcomm Innovation Center's Android contributions for MSM devices and related products. This flaw manifests in the broadcast subsystem's handling of ioctl commands, particularly the TSC_GET_CARD_STATUS interface. The TSC driver serves as a critical component for managing broadcast radio functionality on mobile platforms, making it an essential part of the device's multimedia capabilities and communication infrastructure. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it operates at the kernel level, where unauthorized access can lead to system-wide compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the TSC driver's ioctl handling mechanism. When a malicious application invokes the TSC_GET_CARD_STATUS ioctl call, the driver fails to properly validate the input parameters before attempting to dereference pointers that may point to invalid memory locations. This invalid pointer dereference condition creates a potential crash scenario that can result in a denial of service, effectively rendering the broadcast functionality unavailable to legitimate users. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as the flaw may potentially allow for more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation depending on the specific implementation details and system configuration.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to mobile device security and availability. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it requires only a crafted application to exploit the flaw, making it accessible to both malicious actors and potentially compromised applications. The denial of service impact directly affects user experience by disabling broadcast radio capabilities, which may include FM radio, DAB, or other digital audio broadcasting services. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that under certain conditions, the vulnerability might enable more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing attackers to gain elevated privileges or execute unauthorized code within the kernel space, thereby compromising the entire device security posture.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in kernel drivers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service, specifically targeting the kernel-level components that control hardware functionality. The exploitation pathway follows a pattern consistent with kernel exploitation techniques where user-space applications can leverage driver interfaces to trigger memory corruption issues. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including kernel updates, driver patches, and application sandboxing measures to prevent unauthorized exploitation. Additionally, monitoring for suspicious ioctl calls and implementing robust input validation controls within the TSC driver can provide additional defense layers. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of thorough security testing for kernel components and the need for comprehensive security reviews of device drivers that interface with hardware functionality, particularly those handling broadcast and multimedia services.