CVE-2017-18132 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile and Snapdragon Mobile MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM8996, an out-of-bounds access can potentially occur in tz_assign().
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue manifests within the trusted execution environment component of the system where the tz_assign() function fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them. This out-of-bounds memory access flaw represents a critical security weakness that could allow malicious actors to potentially execute arbitrary code within the secure domain of the device. The vulnerability specifically affects Snapdragon Automotive platforms including the MDM9206, MDM9607, and MDM8996 chipsets, as well as the Snapdragon Mobile MDM9206, MDM9607, and MDM8996 variants, making it particularly concerning for automotive systems and mobile devices that rely on these processors. The flaw falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses issues related to insufficient validation of array indexing operations, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privileges to gain elevated access. This vulnerability represents a serious threat to device integrity as it operates within the Trusted Execution Environment where sensitive operations occur, potentially allowing attackers to bypass security controls and access protected resources. The out-of-bounds access in tz_assign() could enable attackers to manipulate memory structures and potentially escalate privileges, making it a high-severity issue for automotive infotainment systems and mobile devices using these vulnerable chipsets. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it affects automotive platforms where security is paramount, and the Trusted Execution Environment is designed to protect against such attacks. The flaw demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and bounds checking within kernel-level components that handle secure operations. Organizations using affected Snapdragon platforms should prioritize applying the relevant security patches to mitigate this risk and prevent potential exploitation that could lead to unauthorized access or system compromise. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in secure execution environments and represents a classic example of how insufficient bounds checking can lead to critical security breaches in embedded systems. This issue underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of automotive platforms and proper validation of all system calls within trusted execution environments to prevent exploitation by adversaries seeking to gain unauthorized access to sensitive automotive systems.