CVE-2015-9055 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, an assertion was potentially reachable in a memory management routine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9055 represents a critical memory management flaw present in Qualcomm Snapdragon processors utilized in numerous android devices. This issue manifests within the Linux kernel implementation used by Qualcomm Android platforms, affecting all versions of the Android operating system running on these processors. The vulnerability stems from an assertion that could potentially be triggered during normal memory management operations, creating a pathway for system instability and potential exploitation. The flaw exists in the kernel-level memory management routines that handle virtual memory allocation and deallocation processes, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at a fundamental system level where memory operations are critical for device functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under the category of assertion failure within kernel memory management code, which can be categorized as a CWE-254 weakness related to security flaws in memory management. This assertion failure represents a potential denial of service condition where an attacker could potentially trigger the assertion through specific memory allocation patterns or by exploiting the memory management subsystem. The flaw allows for a scenario where legitimate memory operations could cause the kernel to terminate or crash, leading to system instability and potentially enabling privilege escalation attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of privilege escalation techniques under the T1068 privilege escalation tactic, where an attacker might exploit kernel-level memory management flaws to gain elevated system privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9055 extends beyond simple system crashes, as it creates potential for persistent denial of service conditions that could render affected devices unusable. Mobile devices running on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors with affected Android versions could experience spontaneous reboots, application crashes, or complete system lockups when the memory management assertion is triggered. This vulnerability affects a broad range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and other mobile computing platforms that rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets. The widespread adoption of these processors across multiple device manufacturers means that the vulnerability impacts a substantial portion of the mobile device ecosystem, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability typically involve kernel updates and patches provided by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. The recommended approach includes applying the latest security patches from the device vendor, which usually include modifications to the memory management routines to prevent the assertion from being triggered under normal operating conditions. System administrators and device users should prioritize updating their devices to versions that contain the patched kernel code, as the vulnerability could potentially be exploited to bypass security mechanisms or enable more sophisticated attacks. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring systems to detect unusual memory management patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves strengthening input validation within memory management functions and ensuring proper error handling to prevent assertion failures from occurring in production environments.