CVE-2016-10455 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, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, and SDX20, improper initialization of ike_sa_handle_ptr in IPSEC leads to system denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability affects Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable chipsets across multiple generations including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9615, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, and SDX20 platforms. The issue stems from improper initialization of the ike_sa_handle_ptr variable within the IPSEC subsystem, which represents a critical flaw in the secure communication framework of these devices. This vulnerability falls under CWE-457: Use of Uninitialized Variable, a well-documented weakness that occurs when a variable is used without being properly initialized, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the IPSEC (Internet Protocol Security) protocol handling within the Android operating system's kernel space. When the ike_sa_handle_ptr variable fails to initialize properly during the establishment of IPSEC security associations, it creates a scenario where subsequent operations on this uninitialized pointer can result in memory corruption or invalid memory access patterns. This flaw specifically impacts the IKE (Internet Key Exchange) protocol implementation which is fundamental to establishing secure connections in mobile networks. The improper initialization creates a condition where the system attempts to reference or manipulate a pointer that contains garbage values or undefined data, leading to unpredictable system behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests as a system denial of service condition, where affected devices may experience crashes, freezes, or complete system lockups. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness by triggering specific network communication scenarios that force the system to utilize the uninitialized ike_sa_handle_ptr variable, thereby causing the device to become unresponsive or require a reboot. This denial of service condition affects all network communication capabilities on the device, including cellular data, Wi-Fi connectivity, and VPN operations that rely on IPSEC protocols. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it resides in the kernel-level security components, making it difficult to mitigate through standard application-level patches and potentially affecting all network-dependent functionality.
Organizations and device manufacturers should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the relevant security patches released by Qualcomm and Android vendors, which typically involve fixing the initialization sequence of the ike_sa_handle_ptr variable within the IPSEC subsystem. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: Endpoint Denial of Service, where adversaries target system resources to prevent legitimate use. Device administrators should also consider network-level monitoring to detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and implement robust incident response procedures to handle potential service disruption events. Additionally, regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify similar uninitialized variable issues in other system components, as this represents a common class of vulnerabilities that can lead to system instability and denial of service conditions.