CVE-2015-9042 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a buffer overflow vulnerability exists when processing a QMI message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9042 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Qualcomm's Android implementations that affects multiple device models and software versions. This security weakness manifests specifically during the processing of QMI messages, which are fundamental components of Qualcomm's communication stack used for managing cellular data, voice services, and other mobile network functionalities. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the Linux kernel components that Qualcomm integrates into their Android-based products, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory handling inconsistencies.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow vulnerability places it squarely within the purview of CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw occurs when the system processes QMI (Qualcomm MSM Interface) messages that contain malformed data structures, particularly in scenarios involving oversized or improperly formatted message payloads. This vulnerability affects all Qualcomm products utilizing Android releases from the Code_Aurora Forum (CAF) that incorporate the Linux kernel, indicating a widespread impact across various mobile device categories including smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices that rely on Qualcomm's cellular modems and communication processors.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9042 extends beyond simple system instability, as it provides potential attackers with a means to execute arbitrary code within the device's kernel space. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive device functions, potentially enabling surveillance, data exfiltration, or complete device compromise. The vulnerability's presence in the Linux kernel components means that successful exploitation could affect the core communication capabilities of affected devices, potentially rendering them unable to connect to cellular networks or allowing attackers to intercept and manipulate network traffic. Given the widespread adoption of Qualcomm processors in Android devices, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to millions of users globally.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9042 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and end-users through comprehensive software updates and patches provided by Qualcomm and device vendors. The remediation process involves implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the QMI message processing code and ensuring that all incoming message payloads are thoroughly validated before memory allocation occurs. Security researchers recommend deploying defensive programming practices including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and input sanitization techniques to reduce the attack surface. Additionally, network operators should monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while device manufacturers should consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms that can detect and prevent malicious QMI message processing. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique emphasizes the need for comprehensive security measures that address both the immediate exploit and potential long-term system compromise scenarios.