CVE-2015-9197 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 808, and SD 810, when enabling XPUs for SMEM partitions, if configuration values are out of range, memory access outside the SMEM may occur and set incorrect XPU configurations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
This vulnerability resides within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets and affects Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue specifically impacts a range of Snapdragon variants including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 808, and SD 810 processors. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of configuration values during the initialization of eXecute Protect Units (XPUs) for Shared Memory (SMEM) partitions. When XPUs are enabled for these memory regions, the system fails to properly validate input parameters, creating a potential for memory access violations.
The technical flaw manifests when configuration values for XPU settings exceed acceptable ranges, leading to memory access outside the designated SMEM boundaries. This memory corruption occurs during the initialization phase of memory protection mechanisms, where the system attempts to set up execute permissions for specific memory regions. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow condition in kernel-level memory management code, specifically within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset's memory protection subsystem. This flaw allows for incorrect XPU configurations that could potentially enable unauthorized code execution or memory access patterns that violate system security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it affects the fundamental memory protection mechanisms of mobile devices. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to memory regions that should be protected, potentially leading to privilege escalation, code execution, or information disclosure. The vulnerability particularly affects devices running Android versions prior to the specified security patch date, making a substantial portion of the mobile device ecosystem susceptible. This represents a critical security gap in the memory management subsystem of Qualcomm's mobile processors, which are widely deployed across various smartphone and tablet manufacturers.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which covers improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write operations. The attack surface is consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privileges to gain system-level access. The vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and memory management controls, which are fundamental security requirements for embedded systems. Organizations should prioritize patching affected devices and implementing additional monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the relevant Android security patches, enabling automatic security updates, and conducting vulnerability assessments of affected device fleets. This vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation in embedded systems and the critical need for comprehensive memory protection mechanisms in mobile chipsets.