CVE-2015-9073 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, an untrusted pointer dereference can occur in a TrustZone syscall.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9073 represents a critical security flaw affecting Qualcomm products that utilize Android operating systems with Linux kernel implementations from the Code Aurora Forum. This issue manifests within the TrustZone secure execution environment, which serves as a hardware-based security boundary that isolates sensitive operations from the main processing environment. The vulnerability arises from improper validation of pointer values within kernel-level system calls that interface with the TrustZone subsystem, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited to compromise the secure element of mobile devices.
The technical flaw constitutes an untrusted pointer dereference condition that occurs during TrustZone system call processing within the Linux kernel implementation used by Qualcomm devices. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-476, which specifically addresses null pointer dereference issues, though in this context it involves untrusted pointer validation rather than simple null checks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level within a security-sensitive environment, allowing attackers to potentially manipulate pointer values that should be validated before use. When a malicious actor can control or influence the pointer values passed to TrustZone system calls, they may be able to execute arbitrary code within the secure execution environment, thereby bypassing the security boundaries that TrustZone is designed to maintain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across all Qualcomm products that implement Android with Linux kernel versions from CAF, encompassing a wide range of mobile devices including smartphones, tablets, and other connected devices. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data processing functions, compromise device integrity, or execute malicious code within the secure realm of the TrustZone environment. The implications are particularly severe given that TrustZone is designed to protect against such attacks, making this vulnerability a significant weakening of the device's overall security posture. This flaw could enable adversaries to extract cryptographic keys, access secure storage, or perform other privileged operations that should remain isolated from regular user-space applications. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, where adversaries might leverage kernel-level vulnerabilities to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within the device's security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9073 should focus on implementing proper pointer validation mechanisms within TrustZone system call handlers, ensuring that all pointer values are rigorously validated before dereferencing operations occur. Organizations should prioritize updating Qualcomm devices with patched kernel implementations from CAF, as these updates typically include enhanced input validation and memory management controls. The remediation process should also incorporate defensive programming practices such as implementing bounds checking, using safe memory access patterns, and ensuring that all system calls properly validate user-supplied data before processing. Additionally, device manufacturers should consider implementing runtime monitoring for anomalous pointer behavior and establishing more robust isolation mechanisms between the TrustZone and standard execution environments to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future implementations.