CVE-2015-9205 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 808, and SD 810, in a PlayReady API function, a buffer over-read can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9205 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the PlayReady API implementation on various Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors. This issue affects Android devices released prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, specifically targeting hardware platforms including the MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 808, and SD 810 chipsets. The flaw exists within the media playback subsystem where the PlayReady digital rights management system processes content, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted media files could trigger unauthorized memory access patterns.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the PlayReady API function that handles media content processing. When the system attempts to read data from a buffer that has been allocated for specific media content processing, it fails to validate the boundaries of the allocated memory space. This allows an attacker to potentially access memory locations beyond the intended buffer limits, potentially exposing sensitive information or enabling further exploitation. The buffer over-read condition creates an information disclosure vulnerability that could reveal kernel memory contents, device-specific identifiers, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to mobile device security as it can be exploited through media playback scenarios without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. Attackers could craft specially formatted media files that, when played through the affected Android devices, trigger the buffer over-read condition. The exploitation potential extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the leaked memory contents could contain cryptographic keys, system addresses, or other sensitive data that could facilitate more advanced attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations, and represents a classic example of how hardware-software integration vulnerabilities can create persistent security risks.
The impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple device categories including smartphones, tablets, and wearable devices that utilize the affected Qualcomm chipsets. Organizations and users with devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 patch level face potential exposure to attackers who could leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to device information or potentially escalate privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive security patch management across both operating system and hardware firmware components, as the issue affects the underlying processor architecture rather than just the software layer. Mitigation efforts should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant Android security patches, while organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of related vulnerabilities within the PlayReady ecosystem. This vulnerability also highlights the need for robust input validation and boundary checking in media processing APIs, particularly those handling digital rights management protocols that are integral to modern mobile entertainment systems.