CVE-2018-11024 in Kindle Fire HD
Summary
by MITRE
kernel/omap/drivers/misc/gcx/gcioctl/gcif.c in the kernel component in Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd) Fire OS 4.5.5.3 allows attackers to inject a crafted argument via the argument of an ioctl on device /dev/gcioctl with the command 1077435789 and cause a kernel crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-11024 resides within the kernel component of Amazon Kindle Fire HD (3rd generation) devices running Fire OS 4.5.5.3, specifically within the gcx/gcioctl/gcif.c source file. This represents a critical security flaw that manifests through improper input validation mechanisms within the device driver interface. The issue occurs when attackers exploit an ioctl command with the specific value 1077435789, targeting the /dev/gcioctl device node, which leads to a kernel panic and subsequent system crash. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that can be leveraged to disrupt system operations and potentially escalate privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied arguments passed to the ioctl system call interface. When the ioctl command 1077435789 is executed against /dev/gcioctl, the kernel fails to properly sanitize or validate the input parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious input to corrupt kernel memory structures. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass normal user-space protections and directly impact system stability and security.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11024 extends beyond simple system crashes, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker with physical access to the device or the ability to execute code in a privileged context could exploit this vulnerability to cause denial of service, potentially leading to system lockups or complete device unresponsiveness. In the context of mobile device security, this vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise the integrity of the operating system, as it allows for direct kernel manipulation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique under the T1068 (Local Privilege Escalation) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) tactics, as it enables attackers to disrupt system operations and potentially gain elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the affected Fire OS version, as Amazon would have released security updates to address the kernel-level flaw. System administrators and device manufacturers should implement firmware updates that properly validate ioctl arguments and enforce proper input sanitization within the gcx driver module. Additionally, implementing kernel security modules such as kernel address space layout randomization (KASLR) and stack canaries could provide additional protection against similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in kernel drivers and the necessity of thorough input validation mechanisms, particularly for device-specific interfaces that handle privileged operations through ioctl calls.