CVE-2015-9045 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a vulnerability exists in GERAN where a buffer can be overflown while taking power measurements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9045 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within Qualcomm's implementation of GERAN (GSM Edge Radio Access Network) functionality in Android devices. This flaw specifically manifests within the Linux kernel components used by Qualcomm Android platforms, affecting all such devices that utilize the Code-Aurora Forum (CAF) based kernel implementations. The vulnerability occurs during power measurement operations, which are essential for managing battery consumption and device performance optimization in mobile communication systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking during power measurement data processing within the GERAN subsystem. When the system attempts to collect and process power measurement information from GSM EDGE radio components, insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted data that exceeds the allocated buffer space. This buffer overflow condition creates potential for arbitrary code execution within the kernel context, as the overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations including function return addresses and critical system variables. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, covering heap-based buffer overflow scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9045 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it enables sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise device integrity and user data confidentiality. An attacker capable of injecting malicious power measurement data could potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges, leading to complete device compromise and persistent backdoor access. This vulnerability affects the fundamental communication stack of Qualcomm-based Android devices, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the kernel level where system-level privileges are granted. The attack surface is broad as it impacts all Qualcomm products utilizing CAF kernel implementations, affecting millions of devices across various mobile manufacturers including Samsung, HTC, Motorola, and others.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected kernel implementations and firmware updates from device manufacturers. System administrators should prioritize deployment of Qualcomm's security patches and ensure proper kernel hardening measures including stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and input validation controls. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in embedded systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of communication subsystems. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous power measurement data patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability also underscores the necessity of following ATT&CK framework guidelines for mobile device security, particularly focusing on privilege escalation techniques and kernel-level attack vectors that could be leveraged by sophisticated threat actors targeting mobile communication infrastructure.