CVE-2017-14880 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Qualcomm Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android with all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel before security patch level 2018-04-05, while IPA WAN-driver is processing multiple requests from modem/user-space module, the global variable "num_q6_rule" does not have a mutex lock and thus can be accessed and modified by multiple threads.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm's Android and Firefox OS implementations running on MSM platforms with Linux kernel versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue specifically affects the IPA WAN-driver component responsible for handling multiple requests from both modem and user-space modules. The root cause lies in the improper synchronization mechanism surrounding the global variable "num_q6_rule" which controls the number of Q6 rules in the system. This variable lacks proper mutex locking protection, creating a classic race condition scenario where multiple threads can simultaneously access and modify the same global resource without adequate coordination.
The technical flaw manifests when concurrent threads attempt to update the "num_q6_rule" variable during processing of multiple requests from different sources. Without mutex protection, threads can interfere with each other's operations, leading to unpredictable behavior where the variable's value becomes corrupted or inconsistent. This race condition vulnerability falls under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level within the IPA WAN-driver, which serves as a critical communication pathway between modem and user-space components. When multiple threads access this unprotected global variable concurrently, the system may experience incorrect rule counting, leading to potential memory corruption, improper packet handling, or complete system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple functional degradation to potential security compromise and system reliability issues. Attackers could exploit this race condition to manipulate the rule counting mechanism, potentially causing denial of service conditions where the IPA WAN-driver fails to properly handle network traffic. The vulnerability affects all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel before the specified patch level, representing a widespread exposure across multiple device platforms and manufacturers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1499, 'Endpoint Denial of Service', as it could enable attackers to cause system instability or denial of service conditions through careful manipulation of concurrent requests.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper mutex locking around the "num_q6_rule" variable access points within the IPA WAN-driver code. The fix requires adding appropriate synchronization primitives to ensure that only one thread can modify the global variable at any given time. Additionally, comprehensive code review should be conducted to identify other global variables that may suffer from similar race condition issues. System administrators should apply the 2018-04-05 security patch immediately to address this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around the IPA WAN-driver functionality. The patch implementation should include thorough regression testing to ensure that the synchronization mechanisms do not introduce performance degradation or other unintended side effects while maintaining the driver's core functionality and network communication capabilities.