CVE-2015-9151 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9625, MDM9635M, SD 400, and SD 800, userspace-provided pointer arguments are not validated.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets including the MDM9625, MDM9635M, SD 400, and SD 800 platforms within Android systems prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch. The flaw represents a critical validation issue where userspace applications can provide pointer arguments that are not properly validated before being processed by kernel-level components. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787, representing an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when pointer validation is insufficient, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms in the kernel drivers that handle user-space memory pointers, creating a pathway for malicious applications to manipulate kernel memory structures through crafted pointer arguments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows an attacker with local execution privileges to potentially escalate their privileges to kernel level access. When user-space applications pass pointer arguments to kernel functions, the validation process fails to properly verify the memory addresses and permissions associated with these pointers. This creates an opportunity for attackers to craft malicious pointer values that can cause the kernel to access unauthorized memory regions or manipulate kernel data structures. The impact is particularly severe on devices running vulnerable Qualcomm chipsets as these processors are widely used in mobile devices, making the exploitation surface broad and impactful. The vulnerability specifically affects systems where the Snapdragon chipsets are integrated into the Android operating system, with the affected hardware platforms including the MDM9625 and MDM9635M modems as well as the SD 400 and SD 800 series SoCs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable complete system compromise. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain full kernel-level control over the device, allowing them to bypass all Android security mechanisms including SELinux policies, application sandboxing, and other runtime protections. This type of exploit could enable persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and complete device takeover. The vulnerability affects devices that were manufactured with these specific Qualcomm chipsets and have not received the relevant security patches, creating a substantial risk for users of older Android devices. The exploitation requires local access to the device and typically involves crafting malicious applications or system calls that can leverage the pointer validation bypass to achieve kernel-level code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of the relevant Android security patches released in the 2018-04-05 update cycle. Device manufacturers and carriers should ensure all affected devices receive the necessary security updates to address the pointer validation issues in the Snapdragon chipsets. System administrators should implement device management policies that enforce timely patch deployment and monitor for signs of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in kernel space, as recommended by the CWE guidelines for preventing buffer overflows and memory corruption issues. Organizations should consider implementing additional runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization, control flow integrity mechanisms, and memory protection features to further reduce the exploitation risk. Security monitoring should focus on unusual kernel memory access patterns and unauthorized privilege escalation attempts that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.