CVE-2015-9108 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile and Snapdragon Mobile MDM9625, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, and SD 820A, no address argument validation performed on calls to a QSEE syscall may lead to arbitrary read/write or NULL Pointer exception when calling a downstream function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9108 represents a critical security flaw affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This issue resides within the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment (QSEE) syscall interface, which serves as a critical component for secure processing of sensitive operations on mobile devices. The vulnerability manifests in devices utilizing Snapdragon Automotive platforms including the MDM9625 chip and various mobile SoCs such as the SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, and SD 820A processors. The flaw stems from insufficient validation of address arguments during syscall execution, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory access patterns within the secure execution environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-787, representing an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the system fails to validate address parameters passed to QSEE syscalls. This validation failure allows attackers to manipulate memory addresses through crafted syscall calls, potentially leading to arbitrary read/write operations or null pointer dereferences when downstream functions are invoked. The absence of proper input sanitization creates a direct attack surface where malicious code can bypass normal memory protection mechanisms and access restricted memory regions that should only be accessible through legitimate secure execution paths. This vulnerability specifically impacts the kernel-level security architecture of Android devices, where QSEE serves as a trusted execution environment for processing sensitive cryptographic operations and secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the capability to manipulate the secure execution environment itself. Successful exploitation could enable adversaries to access cryptographic keys, decrypt secure communications, or modify system-critical components that rely on the integrity of the QSEE. The vulnerability's presence in automotive platforms raises additional concerns regarding vehicle security systems and connected car functionalities that depend on secure processing of sensitive data. Attackers could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to vehicle infotainment systems, telematics units, or even critical automotive control systems that rely on Qualcomm's secure execution environment. This represents a significant concern for the automotive industry where cybersecurity standards such as ISO/SAE 21434 and ISO 26262 require robust protection against memory corruption vulnerabilities that could lead to system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9108 primarily focus on applying the official security patches released by Qualcomm and Android vendors, which address the missing address validation in QSEE syscall implementations. System administrators should ensure all affected devices receive the 2018-04-05 or later security patch levels that include proper input validation mechanisms for syscall parameters. Device manufacturers must implement comprehensive testing procedures to verify that QSEE syscall interfaces properly validate all address arguments before processing downstream operations. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous syscall patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as memory protection boundaries and stack canaries to provide additional defense-in-depth against potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in secure execution environments and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation through local system exploitation.