CVE-2017-15860 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, while processing an encrypted authentication management frame, a stack buffer overflow may potentially occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2020
This vulnerability resides within Qualcomm's Android implementations that utilize the Linux kernel, specifically targeting the handling of encrypted authentication management frames. The flaw manifests as a stack buffer overflow during the processing of these wireless authentication frames, which are critical components in Wi-Fi security protocols. The vulnerability affects all Qualcomm products that incorporate Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum and utilize the Linux kernel for wireless communication management. This type of buffer overflow represents a serious security weakness that could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices. The issue stems from inadequate bounds checking during the processing of wireless authentication frames, where the system fails to properly validate the size of incoming encrypted data before copying it into fixed-size stack buffers. Such flaws typically arise from improper input validation mechanisms within kernel-level wireless drivers that handle IEEE 802.11 authentication protocols. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient space is allocated for data manipulation. This weakness enables potential attackers to manipulate the program flow through stack corruption, which could lead to privilege escalation or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it affects the fundamental security of wireless communications within Qualcomm-powered devices. An attacker positioned within wireless range of an affected device could potentially exploit this vulnerability by transmitting specially crafted authentication frames that trigger the buffer overflow condition. This exploitation scenario represents a significant concern given that authentication frames are routinely processed by wireless drivers without extensive user interaction, making the attack surface quite broad. The vulnerability could potentially enable remote code execution in kernel space, allowing adversaries to gain root access to affected devices. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of kernel exploits to achieve privilege escalation. The exploitation could also facilitate more sophisticated attacks such as persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, or device hijacking. Given that Qualcomm's products span numerous device types including smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices, the potential impact of this vulnerability is extensive across multiple threat vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant security patches provided by Qualcomm and the Android Open Source Project to address the buffer overflow condition in wireless authentication frame processing. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous authentication frame traffic that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that defensive measures should include network segmentation to limit wireless access to critical systems and enhanced wireless security protocols such as WPA3 when available. Additionally, implementing device firmware updates through secure channels and maintaining up-to-date security monitoring systems can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing behavioral monitoring to identify unusual patterns in wireless authentication processing that could indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The remediation process should involve comprehensive testing of wireless functionality after patch deployment to ensure that legitimate wireless operations remain unaffected while the buffer overflow vulnerability is properly addressed.