CVE-2015-9164 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 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, and SD 820A, a buffer overread in Playready may occur due to lack of input validation of the buffer size provided by HLOS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9164 represents a critical buffer overread condition affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset variants used in Android devices. This flaw resides within the Playready DRM implementation and stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the Hypervisor Level Operating System HLOS component. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and wearable platforms including 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, and SD 820A chipsets. The flaw manifests when the system processes media content protected by Microsoft Playready DRM, where the buffer size parameter provided by the HLOS is not properly validated before being used in memory operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems. The buffer overread occurs because the Playready component fails to validate the buffer size parameter received from the HLOS, allowing an attacker to potentially manipulate memory access patterns. This type of vulnerability enables malicious actors to read data from memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information or system components. The attack vector typically involves crafting specially formatted media content that triggers the vulnerable code path when processed by the Playready DRM engine. The lack of proper bounds checking in the HLOS interface creates an opportunity for exploitation that could lead to information disclosure or system instability.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to devices utilizing affected Snapdragon chipsets, particularly in automotive and mobile environments where Playready DRM is commonly used for media protection. The vulnerability can potentially be exploited through malicious media files that trigger the buffer overread condition during content playback, allowing attackers to extract sensitive information from device memory. The affected platforms span multiple generations of Qualcomm chipsets, making this vulnerability widespread across various Android devices including smartphones, tablets, automotive infotainment systems, and wearable devices. The exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain insights into system memory structures, potentially leading to more sophisticated attacks or information disclosure attacks that compromise user privacy and device security.
The remediation approach for CVE-2015-9164 requires applying the appropriate security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers as part of the Android security update cycle. Organizations should ensure that devices running affected Snapdragon chipsets receive the relevant security updates that address the buffer validation issue in the HLOS Playready implementation. The fix typically involves implementing proper input validation checks for buffer size parameters before memory operations are performed, thereby preventing the overread condition. Additionally, device manufacturers should consider implementing runtime protections and memory sanitization techniques to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious media file processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation may involve crafting malicious media content to trigger the vulnerability, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could potentially lead to further system compromise. Organizations should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding this vulnerability across their device fleets.