CVE-2015-6638 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Imagination Technologies driver in Android 5.x before 5.1.1 LMY49F and 6.0 before 2016-01-01 allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 24673908.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6638 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Imagination Technologies graphics driver component of Android operating systems. This issue affects Android versions 5.x prior to 5.1.1 LMY49F and Android 6.0 before the 2016-01-01 security update, exposing millions of devices to potential exploitation by malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege handling within the graphics driver subsystem, which forms part of the broader Android graphics stack that interfaces with hardware acceleration components.
The technical flaw manifests through a vulnerability in how the driver processes graphics commands and manages memory access permissions. Attackers can craft malicious applications that exploit this weakness to escalate privileges from standard user-level processes to system-level privileges. This occurs because the graphics driver fails to properly validate the integrity of graphics-related system calls and memory operations, allowing malicious code to manipulate driver state and gain unauthorized access to protected system resources. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper kernel memory management and lacks proper bounds checking during graphics processing operations, creating a pathway for privilege elevation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to bypass Android's security model entirely. Once exploited, the malicious application can access sensitive system data, modify core system files, install unauthorized applications, and potentially gain full control over the device. This privilege escalation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for mobile devices where users often grant broad permissions to applications. The exploit can be delivered through seemingly legitimate applications downloaded from official app stores, making detection and prevention challenging for end users and security teams alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6638 primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches released by Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should ensure all Android devices are updated to Android 5.1.1 LMY49F or later versions, or Android 6.0 with the 2016-01-01 security update. Device administrators should implement strict application vetting processes and avoid installing applications from untrusted sources. Network security teams should monitor for suspicious application behavior and implement mobile device management solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-19 and CWE-264 categories related to improper privilege management and access control, and maps to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation through kernel exploits and system service manipulation. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper input validation and memory access controls within the graphics driver component, preventing unauthorized privilege elevation through malformed graphics operations.