CVE-2015-9192 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 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, out of bounds memory access vulnerability may occur in the content protection manager due to improper validation of incoming messages.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
This vulnerability affects Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue resides in the content protection manager component which handles multimedia content protection mechanisms within the device's operating system. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds memory access condition that occurs when the system processes incoming messages without proper validation of message parameters and boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the content protection manager module. When the system receives malformed or specially crafted messages designed to exploit this weakness, it fails to properly verify the size, format, or content of these incoming data packets before processing them. This allows attackers to potentially manipulate memory locations beyond the intended boundaries of the allocated buffers, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given that it affects automotive platforms where security and reliability are paramount for vehicle operation and passenger safety.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical mobile device security concerns into the automotive domain where Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets are widely deployed. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to vehicle infotainment systems, potentially compromising vehicle security features or enabling further attacks on connected vehicle networks. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Snapdragon chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9650, and various SD series processors, indicating the widespread nature of the flaw across Qualcomm's automotive and mobile product lines. This creates significant risk for automotive manufacturers and consumers who rely on these platforms for vehicle connectivity, entertainment, and safety systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate security patching of affected Android systems to the 2018-04-05 or later security patch levels. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potentially malicious message traffic that could exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting and input validation measures to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that can lead to privilege escalation or system compromise. This weakness also maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, highlighting the potential for attackers to leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated system privileges and execute malicious code within the automotive environment.
The prevalence of this vulnerability across multiple Snapdragon chipsets demonstrates the complexity of addressing security issues in embedded automotive systems where patch deployment can be challenging and time-consuming. Security teams should also consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory corruption detection mechanisms to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the automotive platform stack.