CVE-2015-9048 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a vulnerability exists in the processing of lost RTP packets.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9048 represents a critical flaw in Qualcomm's implementation of real-time transport protocol handling within Android devices that utilize the Linux kernel. This issue specifically manifests during the processing of lost RTP packets, which are essential for maintaining audio and video quality in real-time communication applications. The vulnerability affects all Qualcomm products that incorporate Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum and utilize the Linux kernel as their foundational operating system framework, creating a widespread impact across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems. The flaw stems from inadequate handling of packet loss recovery mechanisms, which are fundamental to maintaining stable multimedia communication sessions in mobile networks.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper management of packet reordering and loss recovery algorithms within Qualcomm's network stack implementation. When RTP packets are lost during transmission, the system should properly handle retransmission requests and maintain session continuity through appropriate buffering and recovery mechanisms. However, the flawed implementation fails to correctly process these scenarios, potentially leading to buffer overflows, memory corruption, or denial of service conditions. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to gain elevated privileges or disrupt system functionality. The issue is categorized under CWE-129, which deals with insufficient input validation, and specifically relates to improper handling of network packet processing in kernel space.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9048 extends beyond simple functionality degradation, as it creates potential attack vectors for malicious actors targeting mobile devices and IoT systems. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to cause system crashes, leading to denial of service conditions that would prevent users from making or receiving calls, sending messages, or accessing multimedia services. In more severe scenarios, the memory corruption aspects of this flaw could potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, allowing for complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects devices that rely on Qualcomm's multimedia processing capabilities, which encompasses a significant portion of the smartphone market and various connected devices. This makes the potential attack surface particularly large, as the flaw exists in the foundational network processing components that are essential for normal device operation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9048 require a multi-layered approach combining software patches, network monitoring, and system hardening measures. Qualcomm has released security patches through their regular update cycles, which should be applied immediately to all affected devices. System administrators and device manufacturers should implement network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous packet loss patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The implementation of proper input validation and bounds checking within the kernel's RTP processing modules provides additional protection layers. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and traffic monitoring to identify potential exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service, with potential for lateral movement if exploited successfully. Device manufacturers should also implement secure coding practices and regular security assessments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations, particularly focusing on kernel-level network processing components and proper handling of edge cases in packet loss scenarios.