CVE-2017-15835 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all android releases(Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) from CAF using the linux kernel, While processing the RIC Data Descriptor IE in an artificially crafted 802.11 frame with IE length more than 255, an infinite loop may potentially occur resulting in a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15835 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting multiple Android-based platforms including MSM variants, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android systems that utilize the Linux kernel. This vulnerability manifests specifically within the wireless networking stack when processing malformed 802.11 frames containing RIC Data Descriptor Information Elements. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms that fail to properly handle Information Element length fields exceeding the standard 255-byte limit, creating a condition where the processing logic becomes trapped in an infinite loop.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs at the kernel level within the wireless subsystem's frame parsing routines. When an attacker crafts a malicious 802.11 frame with an RIC Data Descriptor IE that has a length field set to a value greater than 255 bytes, the kernel's wireless driver fails to validate this abnormal length parameter properly. This improper validation leads to a loop structure within the frame processing code that continues indefinitely, consuming all available CPU resources and rendering the device's wireless capabilities completely non-functional. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-835, which specifically addresses the issue of infinite loops in software implementations where loop termination conditions are not properly enforced.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risk to affected devices as it can be exploited remotely through wireless frame injection attacks without requiring any special privileges or user interaction. The infinite loop condition causes the wireless subsystem to become unresponsive, effectively creating a persistent denial of service condition that prevents legitimate wireless communication. This affects all Android variants utilizing the Linux kernel's wireless stack, making it particularly dangerous for mobile devices that rely heavily on wireless connectivity for core functionality including emergency services, enterprise communications, and IoT device connectivity.
The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as this vulnerability can affect device availability and potentially compromise the overall security posture of affected systems. Network administrators and device manufacturers face the challenge of addressing this issue across multiple platform variants, requiring coordinated patches and updates that must be carefully tested to avoid introducing new stability issues. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and boundary checking in kernel-level network processing code, as outlined in various security best practices and ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and system stability compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15835 require immediate patching of affected kernel versions through vendor-provided security updates, while also implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and block malformed wireless frames. Organizations should consider deploying network segmentation controls and wireless intrusion detection systems to prevent exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves implementing proper validation of Information Element length fields and ensuring that loop termination conditions are robustly enforced in the wireless driver code. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for unusual CPU utilization patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the infinite loop behavior creates distinctive performance signatures that can be detected through appropriate monitoring tools and security information event management systems.