CVE-2015-9159 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, lack of input validation OEMCrypto_GetRandom can cause potential buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2015-9159 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset family that affects Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This vulnerability resides within the OEMCrypto_GetRandom function, which is part of the Qualcomm hardware security module responsible for cryptographic operations and secure boot processes. The flaw stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms that fail to properly sanitize data inputs before processing, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or compromise the device's security architecture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through the OEMCrypto_GetRandom function's failure to validate input parameters before performing memory operations. When the function receives unvalidated input data, it can write beyond the bounds of allocated memory buffers, leading to potential memory corruption and system instability. This type of buffer overflow vulnerability directly maps to CWE-121, which describes the condition where a program writes data past the end of a fixed-length buffer, and CWE-122, which covers the condition where a program writes data past the end of a dynamically allocated buffer. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9650, MSM8909W, and various SD series processors, indicating a widespread impact across multiple device generations and use cases.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can enable attackers to bypass critical security mechanisms within the device's hardware security module. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to secure cryptographic operations, compromise device integrity, or execute malicious code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's presence in automotive, mobile, and wearable devices creates additional risk vectors, particularly in environments where device security and reliability are paramount. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of command and scripting interpreters, and T1068, which covers the exploitation of remote services, as attackers could leverage the buffer overflow to establish persistent access to affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9159 primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. Organizations and device users must ensure that all affected devices receive the 2018-04-05 security update or later patch levels that address the input validation deficiencies in OEMCrypto_GetRandom. Additionally, implementing network monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Device manufacturers should consider implementing additional input validation layers in their security implementations and regularly audit their cryptographic functions for similar vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include verifying that the updated firmware properly implements proper buffer size checks and memory management practices to prevent future occurrences of similar buffer overflow conditions in the hardware security subsystem.