CVE-2017-15813 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android, with all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a buffer overflow can occur while reading firmware logs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
This vulnerability exists within the Linux kernel implementation used across various Android and Firefox OS platforms developed by Qualcomm Technologies Inc. The buffer overflow condition manifests specifically during the processing of firmware logs, representing a critical security weakness that could be exploited by malicious actors. The flaw stems from insufficient bounds checking when handling firmware log data structures, allowing attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, which represents a fundamental weakness in memory management that has been consistently identified as a primary attack vector in cybersecurity incidents.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the kernel's firmware logging subsystem where insufficient input validation occurs during log parsing operations. When firmware logs are processed, the system fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This allows an attacker who can influence firmware log generation to craft malicious input that exceeds buffer capacity, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects multiple Android releases and Firefox OS versions, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm-based platforms. The operational impact is significant as this flaw could enable privilege escalation attacks, allowing attackers to gain elevated system privileges and potentially compromise the entire device.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is particularly concerning given that firmware logs are typically generated during system boot processes and hardware initialization sequences. Attackers could potentially trigger this condition by manipulating firmware log content through various means including physical access or network-based firmware updates. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and T1059 which involves command and scripting interpreter usage. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable complete system compromise, as the kernel-level nature of the flaw provides attackers with direct access to system resources and memory spaces. This vulnerability represents a classic example of how embedded systems security can be compromised through seemingly benign logging functionality.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper bounds checking in firmware log processing routines, along with input validation mechanisms that prevent buffer overflows. System administrators should ensure that all affected devices receive timely security updates from vendors, as this vulnerability requires kernel-level patches to address the underlying buffer management issues. The implementation of memory protection features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space protection can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also monitor firmware log generation patterns for anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of embedded systems should include thorough testing of logging subsystems to identify similar buffer overflow conditions that could be exploited in similar contexts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure coding practices in kernel space implementations where a single flaw can result in complete system compromise.