CVE-2015-9046 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a vulnerability exists in LTE where an assertion can be reached due to an improper bound on the size of a frequency list.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
This vulnerability resides within Qualcomm's implementation of LTE functionality in Android devices that utilize the Linux kernel through the Code Aurora Forum CAF framework. The issue manifests as an improper bounds check on frequency list sizes within the LTE subsystem, creating a potential assertion failure that could disrupt normal device operation. The vulnerability affects all Qualcomm products utilizing Android releases from CAF that incorporate the Linux kernel, indicating a widespread impact across numerous device models and manufacturers that rely on Qualcomm's cellular chipset implementations.
The technical flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition where the system fails to properly validate the size of frequency lists before processing them within the LTE radio interface. When an attacker can manipulate or inject malformed frequency list data, the system's assertion mechanism triggers, causing the LTE subsystem to crash or become unresponsive. This assertion failure occurs due to inadequate input validation and boundary checking, allowing the system to proceed with an invalid frequency list size that exceeds expected parameters. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the LTE driver, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially affect the device's ability to maintain cellular connectivity and could serve as a vector for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromising the device's cellular communication capabilities. When the assertion fails, users may experience complete loss of cellular connectivity, inability to make or receive calls, and disruption of data services. In some cases, the system may crash entirely, requiring a device reboot to restore functionality. This vulnerability could be exploited by adversaries who can inject malicious frequency data through various attack vectors including compromised network conditions or specially crafted network messages that target the LTE subsystem's processing logic.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and boundary checks within the LTE subsystem's frequency list processing code. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying security patches from Qualcomm that address the specific bounds checking issue in the LTE driver implementation. The solution involves strengthening the validation logic to ensure that frequency list sizes remain within predetermined acceptable ranges before any processing occurs. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection for LTE subsystem behavior can help identify potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider network-level protections such as traffic filtering and monitoring for unusual frequency list patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 and CWE-787 categories related to improper input validation and buffer overflow conditions, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack chains under ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and persistence through cellular communication disruption.