CVE-2015-9207 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 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, and SD 810, lack of input validation in playready_getadditional_responsedata could lead to a buffer overread.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9207 represents a critical buffer overread flaw affecting various Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors deployed in Android devices prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This vulnerability specifically resides within the PlayReady DRM implementation, which is a Microsoft digital rights management system widely used for protecting multimedia content on mobile platforms. The affected hardware includes popular Snapdragon chipsets such as MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, and SD 810 processors. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation in the playready_getadditional_responsedata function, which processes additional response data during DRM operations. This function fails to properly validate the size or boundaries of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers, creating an exploitable condition that allows attackers to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index or buffer bounds, and more specifically aligns with CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. The buffer overread occurs when maliciously crafted PlayReady content is processed by the vulnerable system, causing the function to read data from memory locations that extend beyond the intended buffer limits. This condition can potentially expose sensitive information including cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or other confidential data stored in adjacent memory regions. The attack surface is particularly concerning because PlayReady is commonly used for processing protected multimedia content, making it accessible through various media playback scenarios including video streaming, audio playback, and digital content distribution services. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution risk when combined with other exploitation techniques, as demonstrated in various exploit frameworks targeting similar buffer overread conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9207 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Android security model. Devices running affected Snapdragon processors are vulnerable to privilege escalation attacks where an attacker could potentially gain elevated system privileges through carefully crafted malicious content. The vulnerability affects a substantial number of Android devices from 2015-2017, including popular smartphones and tablets that were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer markets. Organizations using affected devices face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious media files, compromised websites, or infected applications that leverage the PlayReady DRM system. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves executing malicious code through application-specific attack paths, and T1068, which focuses on exploiting vulnerabilities in the operating system or applications. Security researchers have documented that this vulnerability can be leveraged to extract sensitive information from device memory, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9207 primarily involve applying the relevant Android security patches released by Google and Qualcomm, which include updated PlayReady implementations with proper input validation mechanisms. Device manufacturers and users should ensure all affected devices receive the 2018-04-05 or later security updates that contain fixes for this vulnerability. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based filtering to block suspicious media content, disabling unnecessary PlayReady functionality when not required, and maintaining strict application vetting processes for third-party apps that handle multimedia content. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory access patterns and potential exploitation attempts through the PlayReady subsystem. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically enforce security updates and monitor for vulnerable configurations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation in security-critical systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of DRM implementations in mobile platforms. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for similar buffer overread conditions in other system components, as the underlying architectural flaws that enable this vulnerability are common across various software systems and can manifest in different forms throughout the Android ecosystem.