CVE-2015-9163 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 PlayReady function, information exposure can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9163 represents a critical information exposure flaw within the Android operating system's PlayReady implementation on various Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets. This weakness affects devices manufactured with Snapdragon Automotive, Mobile, and Wear platforms, specifically targeting models including the MDM9206, MDM9650, MSM8909W, and numerous SD series processors spanning from SD 210 through SD 850. The vulnerability emerged from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the PlayReady content protection system, which is designed to secure digital media content across various platforms including mobile devices and automotive infotainment systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of sensitive data within the PlayReady function, where attackers can potentially extract confidential information through crafted malicious inputs or by leveraging existing system access. The flaw operates at the system level within the Android framework, specifically impacting how the PlayReady DRM component manages and processes content protection keys and related metadata. This type of information exposure vulnerability maps directly to CWE-200, which defines the weakness of improper information exposure, and represents a significant concern for automotive and mobile device security where sensitive content protection mechanisms are critical. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because PlayReady is widely deployed across automotive infotainment systems and mobile devices, making the potential attack surface extensive and impactful.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to protected media content, potentially compromising the integrity of digital rights management systems. In automotive environments, this weakness could allow malicious actors to access premium audio or video content that should remain protected, potentially leading to piracy or unauthorized distribution of copyrighted material. The vulnerability also poses risks to device manufacturers and automotive OEMs who rely on these systems for secure content delivery, as it could undermine consumer confidence in the security of their connected vehicles and mobile devices. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1552.001, which covers "Unsecured Credentials" and represents a critical threat to system security where sensitive information can be extracted without proper authorization.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9163 require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Qualcomm and Android security teams, along with comprehensive system updates across all affected Snapdragon platforms. Device manufacturers should implement robust input validation mechanisms within the PlayReady component and establish proper access controls to prevent unauthorized data extraction. Network administrators and automotive security teams must also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation paths that could leverage this weakness. The remediation process should include firmware updates, system-level security patches, and potentially hardware-level mitigations where applicable. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect any anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures specifically tailored to address information exposure vulnerabilities in digital rights management systems.