CVE-2018-11270 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all android releases(Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) from CAF using the linux kernel, memory allocated with devm_kzalloc is automatically released by the kernel if the probe function fails with an error code. This may result in data corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/16/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-11270 represents a critical memory management issue within the Linux kernel implementation used across various Android platforms including MSM devices, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android. This flaw specifically affects systems utilizing the device model framework where memory allocation occurs through the devm_kzalloc function, which is designed to automatically manage memory cleanup during device driver probe operations. The vulnerability stems from the kernel's automatic memory release mechanism that occurs when a driver probe function returns an error code, creating potential data corruption scenarios that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of memory allocation within the device model subsystem of the Linux kernel. When devm_kzalloc is used to allocate memory for device drivers, the kernel automatically registers this memory for cleanup if the probe function fails. However, this automatic cleanup mechanism can lead to situations where memory that was intended to remain allocated for legitimate use gets prematurely freed, resulting in data corruption. This behavior violates the expected memory lifecycle management patterns and creates opportunities for exploitation where attackers can manipulate the timing or conditions under which memory is freed, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-11270 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors that leverage the memory management flaws to compromise system integrity. Attackers can potentially trigger probe function failures in specific driver modules, causing the kernel to release memory that was still needed for legitimate operations. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where the Linux kernel manages critical system resources and driver interactions. The flaw can be exploited to cause system instability, application crashes, or even allow privilege escalation attacks, making it a significant concern for mobile device security and embedded system integrity.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-129 and CWE-787 within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, representing issues related to improper input validation and out-of-bounds writes. The flaw also aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1499 for network denial of service. Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including kernel updates from the respective vendors, driver code reviews to identify improper memory management patterns, and system monitoring to detect anomalous memory allocation behaviors. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing runtime protections and memory integrity checks to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory management flaw in the Linux kernel's device model subsystem.