CVE-2018-13889 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all android releases(Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) from CAF using the linux kernel, Heap memory was accessed after it was freed
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2023
This vulnerability represents a classic heap use-after-free condition that affects multiple Android variants including MSM platforms, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android implementations. The flaw occurs within the Linux kernel components that these mobile operating systems utilize, creating a critical security risk that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the kernel attempts to access heap memory that has already been freed, which violates fundamental memory management principles and creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which defines use-after-free conditions as a well-known weakness in memory management where program code attempts to access memory after it has been freed by the system. This particular implementation flaw exists in the kernel's memory allocation and deallocation routines, where proper synchronization and validation mechanisms are insufficient to prevent access to freed memory regions. The vulnerability impacts the core kernel functionality and can be triggered through various kernel-level operations that manipulate heap memory, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the system level rather than in user-space applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for mobile devices running affected Android variants, as it can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. Attackers can leverage this condition to bypass security mechanisms, escalate privileges, and potentially gain complete control over the device. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to include potential data breaches, surveillance capabilities, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored on the device. The vulnerability's presence across multiple platforms including Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android indicates a widespread issue that affects a substantial portion of mobile devices utilizing these kernel implementations.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires a sophisticated attacker with knowledge of kernel-level memory management and exploitation techniques. However, the nature of the flaw makes it potentially accessible to less skilled adversaries through automated exploitation tools that can identify and trigger heap use-after-free conditions. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected kernel versions, implementation of heap memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and memory sanitization, and enhanced kernel memory management validation routines. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect anomalous kernel behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of proper memory management in kernel code and demonstrates how seemingly simple flaws can have catastrophic security implications. Security teams should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments across all affected platforms and implement layered defense strategies to protect against potential exploitation attempts.