CVE-2018-3590 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, a Use After Free condition can occur in RIL while handling requests from Android.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3590 represents a critical use after free condition affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors across multiple generations including MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 835, and SD 845. This flaw exists within the Radio Interface Layer (RIL) component of the Android operating system, which serves as the critical interface between the baseband processor and the Android framework. The vulnerability manifests when the RIL processes incoming requests from the Android system, creating a scenario where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation. This particular issue affects devices running Android versions prior to the security patch level of 2018-04-05, indicating that the vulnerability was present in widely deployed hardware platforms that form the backbone of numerous smartphone and wearable devices. The use after free condition falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, making it a well-documented and dangerous class of vulnerability that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it creates a potential attack vector for malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to affected devices. When a memory allocation is freed but references remain active, an attacker could potentially manipulate the freed memory region to inject malicious code or redirect execution flow, effectively allowing for privilege escalation and persistent access to the device. The RIL component's role in handling telephony-related requests makes this particularly concerning since it operates with elevated privileges and maintains direct communication with the cellular baseband processor. This vulnerability could enable attackers to intercept communications, execute arbitrary code, or gain root access to the device, representing a significant threat to user privacy and device security. The widespread deployment of affected Snapdragon chipsets across various device manufacturers means that the potential attack surface is extensive, encompassing numerous smartphone models from different vendors that utilize these processors. The vulnerability's presence in multiple generations of Snapdragon chips indicates that this was likely a fundamental design or implementation flaw rather than an isolated incident.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3590 primarily involve applying the appropriate security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, which typically include memory management improvements and proper deallocation procedures within the RIL component. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest security patch levels, particularly those running Android versions before 2018-04-05, as this represents the most effective defense against exploitation. System administrators and security teams should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all devices utilizing affected Snapdragon chipsets and implement patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Additional defensive measures may include network monitoring to detect anomalous telephony-related traffic patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, along with implementing application whitelisting policies to limit potential attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would place it within the privilege escalation and defense evasion categories, as attackers could leverage this flaw to establish persistent access and evade detection mechanisms. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory integrity checks to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in the RIL or other system components. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date firmware and security patches, particularly for system components that operate with elevated privileges and have direct hardware access.