CVE-2015-9049 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 certain responses from the USIM.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9049 represents a critical security flaw within Qualcomm's Android-based products that utilize the Linux kernel stack. This weakness specifically manifests during the processing of responses originating from the Universal Subscriber Identity Module within the cellular network infrastructure. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the kernel's handling of USIM responses, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors. The issue affects all Qualcomm products that incorporate Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum, indicating a widespread impact across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems that rely on Qualcomm's hardware and software implementations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input validation and sanitization processes within the Linux kernel components responsible for communicating with the USIM card. When the kernel receives responses from the USIM, it fails to properly validate the data structure and content of these responses before processing them. This lack of proper validation creates opportunities for malformed or malicious responses to trigger unexpected behavior within the kernel's execution flow. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-20, which specifically addresses "Improper Input Validation," and represents a classic example of how inadequate data validation can lead to system compromise. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness by crafting specially crafted USIM responses that manipulate the kernel's processing logic, potentially leading to privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the kernel space.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9049 extends beyond simple data corruption or denial of service scenarios. Given that this vulnerability exists within the core kernel processing of mobile devices, it could enable sophisticated attacks that compromise the entire device security model. The vulnerability may allow attackers to gain elevated privileges within the kernel, potentially leading to complete device compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user data stored on the device. Additionally, since this affects Qualcomm products across various Android implementations, the attack surface is extensive, encompassing smartphones, tablets, and other mobile devices that utilize Qualcomm's chipsets. The vulnerability's presence in the Linux kernel components means that successful exploitation could affect the device's ability to maintain secure communications and could potentially enable man-in-the-middle attacks against cellular network connections.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9049 should focus on both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements to kernel security mechanisms. Qualcomm and device manufacturers should prioritize the deployment of kernel updates that implement proper input validation for USIM responses, ensuring that all data received from the subscriber identity module undergoes thorough sanitization before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect anomalous USIM response patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, and potentially T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, indicates that defensive measures should include kernel integrity monitoring and runtime protection systems. Additionally, security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify any other similar validation weaknesses within the kernel's communication stacks and implement defense-in-depth strategies that include secure coding practices and regular security audits of kernel components.