CVE-2015-6645 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
SyncManager in Android before 5.1.1 LMY49F and 6.0 before 2016-01-01 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (continuous rebooting) via a crafted application, aka internal bug 23591205.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6645 resides within the SyncManager component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting versions prior to 5.1.1 LMY49F and 6.0 before the 2016-01-01 security patch release. This represents a critical denial of service flaw that can be exploited by malicious actors to induce continuous reboot cycles on affected devices, effectively rendering them unusable and compromising their operational integrity. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of synchronization requests within the Android framework, creating a condition where crafted applications can manipulate system processes to trigger infinite reboot loops.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of synchronization mechanisms that govern how Android applications communicate with system services and manage data synchronization tasks. When a malicious application attempts to establish certain synchronization parameters or manipulate sync adapters, the SyncManager fails to properly validate input parameters or handle exceptional conditions during the synchronization process. This validation failure creates a scenario where the system enters an infinite loop when attempting to process malformed synchronization requests, ultimately causing the device to continuously reboot as the system attempts to recover from what it perceives as a critical failure condition.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to end users and enterprise environments alike, as it can be exploited through seemingly benign applications that appear legitimate in their functionality. Attackers can distribute malware or malicious applications through various channels including third-party app stores or social engineering tactics, knowing that successful exploitation will result in complete device compromise through continuous reboot cycles. The impact extends beyond individual user inconvenience to potential business disruption in enterprise settings where mobile device management systems may be affected, leading to productivity losses and increased support costs. Organizations relying on mobile device deployment for critical operations face particular risk as this vulnerability can be leveraged to create widespread service interruptions.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, an unspecified CWE related to an exception is thrown from a constructor, which describes a condition where improper error handling during object initialization leads to system instability. Additionally, this flaw can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves the use of system shutdown/reboot to disrupt services, demonstrating how attackers can leverage fundamental system components to achieve denial of service objectives. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires minimal user interaction beyond installation of a malicious application, making it accessible to threat actors with limited technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6645 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management, with organizations required to deploy the relevant Android security patches released in January 2016. System administrators should implement comprehensive mobile device management protocols that include application vetting processes and restriction policies for third-party applications. Network-level monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous reboot patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection measures should include behavioral analysis capabilities to identify malicious applications attempting to manipulate synchronization services. Regular security assessments of mobile environments should incorporate testing for similar vulnerabilities within the Android framework, particularly focusing on synchronization and system service components that may present similar attack surfaces.