CVE-2015-9139 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, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, and SD 820, improper input validation can occur while negotiating an SSL handshake.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2021
This vulnerability affects Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors across multiple generations including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, and SD 820 chipsets. The issue stems from inadequate input validation during SSL handshake negotiation processes within the Android operating system. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation," a fundamental weakness that occurs when software does not properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it. The flaw specifically targets the cryptographic handshake mechanism that establishes secure communication channels between mobile devices and servers, creating potential attack vectors for man-in-the-middle attacks and session hijacking.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the SSL handshake process fails to properly validate certificate data and cryptographic parameters provided by remote servers. During the negotiation phase, the mobile processor's cryptographic subsystem does not adequately verify the integrity of input parameters, potentially allowing attackers to inject malformed certificate data or manipulate cryptographic handshake values. This weakness enables adversaries to potentially intercept or manipulate encrypted communications without proper authentication, as the system fails to validate the legitimacy of certificate chains and cryptographic signatures. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, making it particularly concerning for legacy devices that may not receive regular updates. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through protocol manipulation, specifically targeting the network security protocols layer where cryptographic validation should occur.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data interception to potentially enable complete session compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive communications. Mobile devices utilizing affected Snapdragon chipsets become vulnerable to attacks that can decrypt secure communications, manipulate transaction data, or establish unauthorized access to corporate networks and services. The vulnerability affects a broad range of consumer and enterprise mobile devices, including smartphones, tablets, and wearables that rely on Qualcomm's mobile processor architecture. Organizations deploying these devices in enterprise environments face significant risk as attackers could exploit this weakness to gain access to sensitive business communications, financial transactions, and personal data. The widespread adoption of these chipsets across multiple device manufacturers means that the vulnerability affects numerous device models and operating system configurations, amplifying the potential attack surface.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of security patches provided by device manufacturers and Google, with particular attention to ensuring all affected devices receive the 2018-04-05 security update or later. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring for unusual SSL handshake patterns and certificate validation failures that may indicate exploitation attempts. Device users should be advised to avoid connecting to untrusted networks and to ensure their devices remain updated with the latest security patches. Organizations should consider implementing network segmentation and additional authentication layers to reduce the impact of potential exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic input validation in mobile security architectures and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of cryptographic implementations. Security teams should also consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate and maintain robust monitoring for anomalous SSL/TLS behavior that could indicate exploitation of similar input validation weaknesses.