CVE-2017-18133 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 835, an out of bound access for ebi channel array can potentially occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
This vulnerability exists within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, and SD 835 platforms. The issue manifests as an out-of-bounds memory access condition that occurs within the ebi channel array processing mechanism. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking during the handling of memory operations related to the embedded baseband interface channels. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 weakness category which specifically addresses insufficient bounds checking in array access operations. The vulnerability affects Android devices that have not received the security patch released on April 5, 2018, making it particularly concerning for older devices that may not receive regular security updates.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the system processes data through the ebi channel array without proper validation of array indices. This allows for memory access beyond the allocated bounds of the array structure, potentially leading to memory corruption or unauthorized data access. The ebi channel array serves as a communication interface between different components of the mobile platform, and the out-of-bounds access can be exploited to manipulate memory contents or cause system instability. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges within the system. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be exploited through malicious input processing within the memory management subsystem.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system resources and potentially compromise the entire device. Devices running affected Snapdragon chipsets are at risk of being exploited through malicious applications or system-level attacks that target the vulnerable memory access pattern. The vulnerability affects the fundamental memory management capabilities of these platforms, making it a critical issue for mobile security. Given that these chipsets power numerous smartphones and wearable devices, the potential attack surface is substantial. The vulnerability can be exploited to bypass security mechanisms that rely on proper memory management, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Qualcomm and the Android security team on April 5, 2018. Device manufacturers should ensure that all affected devices receive the appropriate firmware updates that address the bounds checking issue in the ebi channel array processing. Users should regularly check for and install system updates to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper bounds validation before array access operations, preventing the out-of-bounds memory access that could lead to system compromise. Organizations should also consider monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis or endpoint detection systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting legitimate credentials or system capabilities to gain elevated privileges, as the memory corruption could potentially enable privilege escalation within the mobile platform.