CVE-2018-3560 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android, with all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a Double Free vulnerability exists in Audio Driver while opening a sound compression device.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3560 represents a critical double free condition within the audio driver component of Android-based systems developed by Qualcomm. This flaw manifests specifically when attempting to open a sound compression device, creating a scenario where memory allocated for audio processing operations is freed twice, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The vulnerability affects multiple Android variants including MSM, Firefox OS, and QRD Android platforms, all utilizing Linux kernel implementations from Qualcomm. The double free condition occurs in the kernel-level audio subsystem, where improper memory management during device initialization creates exploitable memory corruption patterns. This vulnerability falls under CWE-415, which specifically addresses double free conditions in software development, making it a particularly dangerous class of memory corruption flaw. The attack surface is significant given that audio drivers are frequently accessed components within mobile operating systems, making this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking persistent access to mobile devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within the audio compression device opening sequence. When the system attempts to initialize a sound compression device, the audio driver code fails to properly track memory references, leading to a scenario where a single memory block is freed twice during the device setup process. This memory management error occurs in kernel space, where the audio driver interacts directly with hardware components to manage audio compression operations. The flaw is particularly insidious because it operates at the kernel level, allowing attackers to potentially execute malicious code with system privileges. The vulnerability can be triggered through legitimate audio device operations, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard application-level security measures. The double free condition creates heap corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical data structures or function pointers, enabling privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the kernel context.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3560 extends beyond simple system instability, presenting significant security risks to mobile device users and organizations. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to devices, potentially compromising sensitive user data, enabling remote code execution, or establishing persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Qualcomm-based platforms means that a wide range of mobile devices, tablets, and other embedded systems could be affected, including smartphones running various Android versions and Firefox OS implementations. The attack vector requires minimal user interaction, as the vulnerability can be triggered through normal audio device operations, making it particularly dangerous in environments where mobile devices are extensively used. Organizations relying on Qualcomm-powered devices for business operations face increased risk of data breaches, device compromise, and potential lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's kernel-level nature means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, potentially allowing attackers to bypass traditional security controls and access encrypted data or system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3560 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and system administrators to prevent exploitation. The primary remediation involves applying security patches provided by Qualcomm and device vendors, which typically include fixes to the audio driver memory management code to prevent double free conditions. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest security patches, particularly those running Android versions from CAF that incorporate the vulnerable kernel components. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual audio device access patterns or memory allocation behaviors. Additional defensive measures include implementing kernel memory protection features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and memory management controls that can help detect or prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and control communications highlights the need for network monitoring to detect potential post-exploitation activities. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing runtime protection mechanisms and enhanced kernel security modules to provide additional layers of defense against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of this vulnerability across device fleets, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and related threats.