CVE-2015-9195 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9650, MDM9655, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, and SDX20, in a QTEE syscall handler, HLOS can cause a buffer overflow to occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9195 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Qualcomm TrustZone Execution Environment (QTEE) syscall handler on various Snapdragon mobile chipsets. This issue affects Android devices released prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, specifically targeting Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms including the MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9650, MDM9655, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, and SDX20 chipsets. The flaw exists within the Hypervisor Level Operating System (HLOS) component that interfaces with the TrustZone secure execution environment, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
This buffer overflow vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the QTEE syscall handler implementation, allowing malicious code to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the secure execution environment. The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the CWE-121 CWE category of "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and potentially CWE-787 "Out-of-bounds Write" as the vulnerability enables arbitrary memory corruption. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it operates at the hypervisor level, where the HLOS component interacts with the secure world of TrustZone, making it a prime target for sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate privileges from the normal user context to the secure execution environment level. This privilege escalation allows for complete compromise of the device's security model, potentially enabling unauthorized access to encrypted data, cryptographic keys, and secure communication channels. The vulnerability affects millions of Android devices globally, particularly those running older Android versions on affected Qualcomm chipsets, creating a substantial attack surface for nation-state actors and advanced persistent threat groups. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to complete device takeover, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9195 must prioritize immediate patch deployment through the standard Android security update process, with device manufacturers implementing the 2018-04-05 security patch level or later. System administrators and security teams should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify affected devices and prioritize remediation efforts based on risk exposure. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based monitoring for suspicious syscall patterns, deploying mobile threat defense solutions, and ensuring proper network segmentation to limit lateral movement. Organizations should also consider device-level security controls such as enabling secure boot, disabling unnecessary services, and maintaining regular security audits. The remediation process should align with ATT&CK framework tactics related to privilege escalation and defense evasion, ensuring comprehensive coverage of potential exploitation vectors. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the inherent risks associated with legacy mobile platforms that may no longer receive security updates from manufacturers.