CVE-2018-11902 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all android releases (Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) from CAF using the linux kernel, lack of length validation check for value received from firmware can lead to OOB access in WLAN HOST.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2023
This vulnerability exists within the Android operating system and related platforms from Qualcomm Automotive Framework, specifically affecting Linux kernel implementations used in mobile and embedded systems. The flaw manifests in the wireless local area network host driver where insufficient input validation occurs when processing data received from firmware components. This represents a classic buffer overread condition that can be exploited through malicious firmware communication, allowing unauthorized access to memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability affects multiple Android variants including standard Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android implementations, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm-based mobile platforms.
The technical root cause stems from inadequate length validation mechanisms within the wireless networking stack, specifically in how the WLAN HOST driver handles data structures received from firmware modules. When firmware transmits configuration parameters or operational data to the host system, the driver fails to properly validate the length of incoming data before processing. This omission creates a condition where an attacker can craft malicious firmware responses containing oversized data payloads that exceed the allocated buffer space. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overread condition that can result in information disclosure, system instability, or potential code execution depending on the memory corruption patterns. This flaw aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length of input buffers, and represents a direct violation of secure coding practices for memory management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack vectors within the wireless networking domain, particularly affecting systems that rely on Qualcomm's wireless chipsets and associated firmware implementations. An attacker with access to the wireless communication channel or the ability to compromise firmware integrity can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to system memory, potentially extracting sensitive information or causing denial of service conditions. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android variants suggests that a wide range of devices could be affected, including smartphones, tablets, and embedded systems that utilize Qualcomm's wireless networking solutions. This creates significant risk for enterprise environments where mobile devices handle sensitive corporate data and for consumer devices where personal information may be exposed through memory corruption attacks. The potential for privilege escalation exists if the vulnerable driver operates with elevated privileges during firmware communication.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms within the wireless networking driver components. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize firmware updates that include proper length checks for all data received from firmware modules, ensuring that buffer boundaries are strictly enforced during data processing operations. The implementation of kernel-based protections such as stack canaries, memory protection mechanisms, and bounds checking should be enabled to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect anomalous firmware communication patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security patches should be applied immediately to all affected systems, with particular attention to enterprise mobile device management programs that oversee Qualcomm-based device fleets. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components that may share similar architectural patterns with the affected wireless networking stack.