CVE-2015-9178 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, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, 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, while processing the rmp secure command, memory corruption may result if the response buffer is smaller than the expected size.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9178 represents a critical memory corruption flaw affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms that was present in Android systems prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This vulnerability specifically manifests during the processing of rmp secure commands, which are part of the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment and are designed to handle sensitive operations within the Trusted Execution Environment. The flaw occurs when the response buffer allocated for processing these secure commands is insufficiently sized to accommodate the expected data payload, creating a potential avenue for memory corruption attacks that could compromise the security integrity of the device.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and buffer management within the secure command processing mechanism of Qualcomm's Snapdragon chipsets. When the system receives a response to an rmp secure command, it attempts to write data into a buffer that may be smaller than the actual data size being returned. This buffer overflow condition can result in overwriting adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate system behavior or execute arbitrary code within the secure execution environment. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms including automotive variants like MDM9206 and MDM9650, along with mobile and wearable chipsets such as SD 210/212/205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, and SD 850, indicating the widespread impact across Qualcomm's product portfolio.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical memory corruption scenarios as it specifically targets the secure command processing within the Trusted Execution Environment, which is designed to protect sensitive operations and data from malicious interference. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to secure elements of the system, compromise the integrity of secure operations, or manipulate the behavior of the secure execution environment. This represents a significant threat to automotive systems that rely on Qualcomm's Snapdragon platforms for telematics, infotainment, and safety-critical functions, as the compromised secure environment could affect vehicle security systems, communication protocols, or data protection mechanisms. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and execution within secure environments.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires careful targeting of the specific buffer size conditions and command processing sequences within Qualcomm's secure execution framework. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected devices to the 2018-04-05 security patch level or later, as this update addresses the buffer management issue in the rmp secure command processing mechanism. Additionally, organizations deploying automotive systems based on affected Snapdragon platforms should conduct comprehensive security assessments to identify potential attack vectors and implement additional defensive measures such as memory protection mechanisms, input validation controls, and monitoring for anomalous secure command processing patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper buffer management in secure execution environments and highlights the need for thorough security testing of trusted execution components in automotive and mobile platforms.