CVE-2015-8937 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
drivers/char/diag/diagchar_core.c in the Qualcomm components in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5, 6, and 7 (2013) devices mishandles a socket process, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28803962 and Qualcomm internal bug CR770548.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8937 resides within the diagnostic character driver component of Qualcomm's Android implementation, specifically in the diagchar_core.c file. This flaw affects Android versions prior to 2016-08-05 and impacts Nexus 5, 6, and 2013 Nexus 7 devices. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of socket processes within the diagnostic subsystem that enables privilege escalation attacks. According to CWE-264, this represents a permissions flaw where the system fails to properly validate socket operations, creating an avenue for unauthorized privilege elevation. The issue manifests through the Qualcomm components that manage diagnostic communication channels, which are typically restricted to system-level processes but can be manipulated by malicious applications.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a crafted application attempts to manipulate the socket handling within the diagnostic character driver. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and elevate their privileges to system level, effectively gaining complete control over the affected device. This type of privilege escalation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes the use of local system privileges to gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability specifically targets the socket process management within the diagnostic subsystem, where improper validation allows attackers to inject malicious code or manipulate existing processes to achieve elevated privileges. The diagnostic subsystem typically operates with high privileges to enable debugging and testing functions, but this particular implementation fails to properly isolate socket operations from untrusted applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8937 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control over affected devices. Once exploited, adversaries can access all device data, install malicious applications, modify system configurations, and potentially use the compromised device as a pivot point for network attacks. The vulnerability affects devices that were widely deployed in 2015 and early 2016, making it particularly concerning for organizations with legacy Android devices in their infrastructure. The attack vector requires only a crafted application to be installed on the target device, making it relatively accessible to threat actors. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper privilege separation in system-level components and highlights how diagnostic interfaces can become attack surfaces when not properly secured.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android versions, with the recommended solution being the installation of security updates released by Google and Qualcomm. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies to ensure all affected devices receive timely security updates. The fix involves proper socket process validation within the diagnostic subsystem, ensuring that only authorized processes can manipulate diagnostic interfaces. Additionally, device administrators should consider implementing mobile device management solutions to monitor and control application installations on affected devices. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of secure coding practices for system-level components and proper access control mechanisms. From a defensive perspective, network monitoring should be implemented to detect suspicious diagnostic communication patterns, and regular security audits should be conducted to identify similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in other system components.