CVE-2018-3589 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9650, MDM9655, SD 835, SD 845, SD 850, the vswr capture size is larger than the maximum size of a diag logPacket, which can lead to a buffer overflow when the sample buffer is copied to the logPacket buffer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3589 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms including the MDM9650, MDM9655, SD 835, SD 845, and SD 850 chipsets. This issue manifests within the vehicle security wireless radio vswr capture functionality where the system attempts to copy sample data into a diag logPacket buffer. The fundamental technical flaw occurs when the vswr capture size exceeds the maximum allowable size for a diag logPacket, creating a condition where data overflow can occur during the buffer copy operation. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category, specifically representing a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes, as it provides potential attackers with a pathway to achieve privilege escalation and code execution within the mobile platform's security subsystem. The affected Qualcomm Snapdragon platforms are widely deployed in Android devices, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a mass exploitation perspective. The vulnerability exists in the diag logging mechanism that handles wireless radio performance data, which suggests that an attacker could potentially manipulate the vswr capture process to trigger the buffer overflow condition. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as the buffer overflow could enable an attacker to gain elevated privileges within the system.
The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at a low-level system component that handles critical wireless communication data, and the buffer overflow could be triggered through legitimate vswr capture operations that occur during normal device operation. The affected platforms represent a significant portion of the mobile market, including flagship devices from major manufacturers that utilize these Qualcomm chipsets. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting specific vswr capture data that exceeds the logPacket buffer limits, leading to memory corruption that might allow for code execution. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and buffer size checking in embedded systems and mobile platforms. The security patch level 2018-04-05 indicates that Qualcomm and device manufacturers were aware of this issue and provided remediation, but the vulnerability remained exploitable on devices that had not received the update. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign diagnostic functionality can become a critical security risk when proper memory management and bounds checking are not implemented. Organizations should ensure all affected devices receive the appropriate security patches and implement monitoring for unusual vswr capture patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.