CVE-2015-9112 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 400, SD 800, SD 820, and SD 820A, lack of input validation in QSEE can cause potential buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9112 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment QSEE component of Android devices. This issue affects various Snapdragon chipset variants including the Snapdragon Automobile and Snapdragon Mobile MDM9625, SD 400, SD 800, SD 820, and SD 820A platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the QSEE framework, which operates as a trusted execution environment responsible for handling sensitive security operations. The flaw allows malicious actors to potentially exploit memory corruption issues through crafted inputs that exceed allocated buffer boundaries, creating opportunities for privilege escalation and system compromise.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the QSEE's handling of user-supplied data without proper bounds checking or validation procedures. When legitimate input data is processed by the secure execution environment, the absence of adequate input sanitization enables attackers to craft malicious payloads that can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This buffer overflow condition occurs at the kernel level within the trusted execution environment, making it particularly dangerous as it operates outside the normal Android security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests when QSEE receives unvalidated input from various system components, potentially including device drivers, system services, or even user applications that interact with the secure environment through legitimate interfaces.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9112 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides potential attack vectors for privilege escalation attacks that can bypass Android's standard security mechanisms. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability may gain access to sensitive system resources, extract confidential data, or even execute arbitrary code within the secure execution environment. The affected Snapdragon platforms represent a significant portion of mobile devices from 2015 and early 2016, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for widespread exploitation. The nature of the QSEE environment means that successful exploitation could compromise the entire device security architecture, potentially affecting secure boot processes, encryption keys, and other critical security functions that depend on the integrity of the trusted execution environment.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the appropriate Android security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to versions containing the patched QSEE implementation that includes proper input validation mechanisms. The fix typically involves implementing bounds checking, input sanitization procedures, and memory management improvements within the secure execution environment. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all affected devices within their networks and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant concern under the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques where attackers leverage system-level vulnerabilities to gain elevated access rights. The remediation process requires careful coordination between device manufacturers, carriers, and end users to ensure complete protection against this persistent threat vector that could enable advanced persistent threats and data exfiltration attacks.