CVE-2015-9119 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, and SDX20, sensitive information may be returned to the QMI client as a response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9119 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting various Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms and wearable devices. This vulnerability exists within the Qualcomm MSM (Mobile Services Module) and MDM (Modem) chipsets that power numerous android devices released prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue manifests when the QMI (Qualcomm MSM Interface) service processes requests from client applications, potentially returning sensitive information that should remain confidential. The affected device families include popular models such as the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, and various SD series processors including SD 210, SD 212, SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, and SDX20. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and output sanitization within the QMI service implementation. When QMI client applications make requests to the underlying hardware services, the system fails to properly filter or validate the responses before returning them to the requesting application. This allows malicious or poorly designed applications to potentially access sensitive system information, including but not limited to device identifiers, network configuration details, security credentials, or other confidential data that should be restricted to authorized system components only. The vulnerability exploits the trust relationship between the QMI service and its clients, enabling information leakage that could be leveraged by attackers to gain insights into the device's internal state and configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gather device-specific information that would aid in crafting targeted attacks against the device or its users. The exposure of sensitive information could enable adversaries to perform device fingerprinting, identify specific hardware configurations, or gather data that could be used in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to compromise device security. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile devices that rely heavily on Qualcomm's proprietary hardware interfaces and services, making it a significant concern for enterprise and personal device security. According to the ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as T1212 (Exploitation for Credential Access) and T1082 (System Information Discovery) as it enables both information gathering and potential credential exposure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. Organizations should ensure all affected devices receive the 2018-04-05 security update or later patches that address the QMI service information disclosure issue. Device administrators should also implement additional security measures including application sandboxing, monitoring for unusual QMI service access patterns, and regular security audits of device configurations. Network-level protections such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing device management policies that restrict QMI service access to only essential applications and regularly review application permissions to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system interfaces. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and proper input validation in mobile device operating systems, particularly in hardware-software integration environments where proprietary interfaces like QMI can create unique attack surfaces.