CVE-2015-9141 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, MDM9635M, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 800, SD 808, and SD 810, in HHO scenarios, during the ACQ procedure, there are possible instances where the search database is incorrectly updated resulting in memory corruption due to buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
This vulnerability exists within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets and affects Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw manifests specifically during HHO (Handover) scenarios when executing the ACQ (Acquisition) procedure, representing a critical memory corruption vulnerability that could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution. The technical root cause involves improper handling of database updates during wireless handover operations, where buffer overflow conditions occur due to inadequate bounds checking mechanisms. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it affects multiple generations of Snapdragon processors including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MSM8909W, and various SD series chips from SD 210 through SD 810, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm's mobile platform ecosystem. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow", and represents a classic memory corruption flaw that can be exploited to execute malicious code with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized access to device functionality and potentially escalate privileges within the mobile operating system. During HHO scenarios, which occur when a mobile device transitions between different network cells or technologies, the system's wireless subsystem undergoes complex state transitions that involve updating internal databases and managing memory resources. The buffer overflow occurs when the system attempts to update these databases with data that exceeds allocated buffer sizes, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited through carefully crafted network conditions or malicious cellular signals. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of application execution commands, and T1068, which covers privilege escalation through local exploitation. The attack surface is particularly broad given that these processors are found in numerous Android devices, making this vulnerability a significant concern for mobile device security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of security patches provided by device manufacturers and Qualcomm, as well as implementation of network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Device vendors should prioritize rolling out the 2018-04-05 security patch level to affected devices, which includes updated firmware and kernel components that properly handle database update operations during HHO procedures. Network administrators and security teams should monitor for unusual handover patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also implementing device enrollment in security frameworks that can detect and respond to memory corruption events. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in embedded systems, particularly those managing real-time communication protocols where timing and resource management are critical. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous wireless behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific buffer overflow condition.