CVE-2015-9158 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9650, 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 820A, SD 835, SD 845, and SD 850, in a QTEE crypto function, a buffer overflow can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9158 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Qualcomm Trusted Execution Environment (QTEE) crypto function present in various Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms. This security weakness affects Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level, specifically impacting Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9650, MSM8909W, and numerous SD series processors ranging from SD 210 to SD 850. The flaw exists within the cryptographic operations executed within the secure environment, making it particularly dangerous as it operates in a trusted execution context where sensitive operations are expected to be protected from exploitation. This vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a significant concern for automotive systems where security is paramount due to the potential for remote code execution in vehicle infotainment and telematics systems.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow stems from improper bounds checking within the QTEE cryptographic functions that handle sensitive data processing. When cryptographic operations are performed within the secure environment, the system fails to properly validate input lengths against allocated buffer sizes, allowing malicious actors to overwrite adjacent memory locations. This flaw particularly impacts the way the secure element manages cryptographic keys and operations, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code within the trusted execution environment. The vulnerability's exploitation requires careful crafting of input data that exceeds the intended buffer capacity, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to bypass security mechanisms. The QTEE operates as a separate secure processor within the system, isolated from the main operating environment, making this flaw especially concerning as it could potentially compromise the entire security architecture of the device. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges within the secure environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends significantly beyond typical mobile device security concerns, particularly affecting automotive systems that rely on Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets for their connectivity and infotainment systems. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to vehicle communication systems, compromising the integrity of automotive telematics services and potentially enabling remote vehicle control. The widespread deployment of affected Snapdragon chipsets across various automotive platforms makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it affects multiple vehicle manufacturers and models. Organizations implementing these systems must consider the potential for supply chain attacks, where adversaries could target the secure elements of automotive systems to gain access to vehicle networks. The vulnerability's presence in both mobile and automotive platforms creates a complex attack surface that requires comprehensive security assessments across multiple domains, including automotive cybersecurity frameworks and mobile device security protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9158 require immediate deployment of security patches provided by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, along with comprehensive system hardening measures. Organizations should implement regular security updates and vulnerability assessments to identify potentially affected systems, particularly in automotive environments where patch deployment may be more complex due to vehicle lifecycle management. The implementation of memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention should be prioritized to reduce exploitation success rates. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect potential exploitation attempts, while regular security audits of automotive systems should be conducted to identify additional vulnerabilities. Device manufacturers must ensure proper firmware update mechanisms are in place for automotive systems, as these platforms often have longer deployment cycles and may not receive updates as frequently as consumer mobile devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in trusted execution environments and highlights the need for continuous security validation of automotive cybersecurity implementations.