CVE-2015-6646 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The System V IPC implementation in the kernel in Android before 6.0 2016-01-01 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (global kernel resource consumption) by leveraging improper interaction between IPC resource allocation and the memory manager, aka internal bug 22300191, a different vulnerability that CVE-2015-7613.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6646 represents a critical flaw in the System V Inter-Process Communication implementation within Android kernel versions prior to 6.0. This issue stems from improper interaction between IPC resource allocation mechanisms and the kernel's memory management subsystem, creating a pathway for malicious actors to consume excessive kernel resources. The vulnerability was internally tracked as bug 22300191 and is related to but distinct from CVE-2015-7613, indicating a broader class of issues affecting kernel IPC mechanisms. The flaw specifically targets the way the kernel manages shared memory segments and semaphore sets, which are fundamental components of the System V IPC framework that Android relies upon for process communication.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a race condition or improper resource accounting during IPC object creation and destruction cycles. When applications create System V IPC objects such as shared memory segments or semaphores, the kernel allocates corresponding kernel memory structures that must be properly tracked and managed. The flaw manifests when the memory manager's handling of these resources conflicts with the IPC subsystem's resource allocation logic, leading to situations where kernel resources are not properly released or are repeatedly allocated without corresponding deallocation. This improper interaction causes kernel memory to become fragmented and consumed at an accelerated rate, ultimately leading to system instability and potential denial of service conditions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to systematically consume global kernel resources, effectively creating a resource exhaustion attack that can render the device unstable or completely unresponsive. The denial of service occurs not just at the application level but at the kernel level, making it particularly severe as it affects the core operating system functionality. Attackers can repeatedly create and destroy IPC objects in a manner that exploits the flawed resource management logic, causing continuous kernel memory consumption that can lead to system crashes, application failures, and in extreme cases, complete device lockup. This vulnerability particularly affects Android devices running versions before 6.0, which were widely deployed and commonly used in enterprise and consumer environments.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6646 primarily focus on upgrading to Android 6.0 or later versions where the kernel implementation has been corrected to properly handle IPC resource allocation and deallocation. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual patterns of IPC object creation and destruction that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" in software systems, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for "Resource Hijacking" as it involves the unauthorized consumption of system resources. Organizations should also consider implementing kernel security modules and enhanced memory management policies that can detect and prevent abnormal resource allocation patterns, particularly in environments where mobile devices are used for critical operations.