CVE-2015-9217 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 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, and Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, certain malformed HVEC clips could cause an assertion to fail.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9217 represents a critical assertion failure in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors that affects Android devices released prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This flaw specifically impacts a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets including the MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, and Snapdragon_High_Med_2016 platforms. The vulnerability manifests when processing malformed HVEC (H.265 video encoding) clips, which are commonly used in multimedia applications and streaming services.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the video decoding pipeline of these Snapdragon processors. When the system encounters malformed HVEC video content, the assertion mechanism fails to properly handle the unexpected data structure, leading to a system crash or potential denial of service condition. This assertion failure represents a classic example of improper error handling that can be exploited to disrupt normal device operation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, which addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions, and demonstrates how improper validation of external inputs can lead to system instability. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability exists in the hardware-level video processing units rather than software components, making it particularly challenging to address through traditional software patches alone.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-9217 extends beyond simple device disruption, as it affects a substantial portion of the Android smartphone and wearable device market. Devices utilizing these Snapdragon chipsets represent a significant market share across various manufacturers including Samsung, HTC, LG, and numerous other OEMs. The vulnerability creates potential attack vectors for adversaries who could craft malicious video content to trigger device crashes, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as persistent denial of service or even privilege escalation. This flaw falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which describes "Cloud Service Management" and "Resource Hijacking" through device disruption, and could be leveraged to create conditions favorable for more advanced exploitation. The widespread deployment of affected chipsets means that millions of devices could be potentially compromised, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a security operations standpoint.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-9217 require a multi-layered approach combining firmware updates, software patches, and operational security measures. Device manufacturers should prioritize immediate deployment of security patches that address the specific assertion failure in the Snapdragon video processing units, though the hardware-level nature of the vulnerability may require chipset-specific firmware updates from Qualcomm. Users should ensure their devices receive the 2018-04-05 security patch or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering measures to prevent malicious HVEC video content from reaching affected devices, particularly in enterprise environments where device management is more controlled. The vulnerability highlights the importance of hardware-level security considerations and demonstrates how embedded system components can create persistent security risks that extend beyond traditional software-based vulnerabilities. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect unusual device behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the assertion failure could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks in combination with other vulnerabilities.