CVE-2018-3591 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9650, MDM9655, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, the default build configuration of deviceprogrammer in BOOT.BF.3.0 enables the flag SKIP_SECBOOT_CHECK_NOT_RECOMMENDED_BY_QUALCOMM which will open up the peek and poke commands to any memory location on the target.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable chipsets affecting Android devices before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw resides in the default build configuration of deviceprogrammer within the BOOT.BF.3.0 component where the SKIP_SECBOOT_CHECK_NOT_RECOMMENDED_BY_QUALCOMM flag is enabled. This configuration creates a critical security weakness that allows unauthorized access to memory operations through peek and poke commands. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Qualcomm processors including MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9650, MDM9655, SD 210/212/205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 615/16/415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, and Snapdragon_High_Med_2016 processors. The security implications are severe as this configuration effectively disables secure boot checks that are fundamental to protecting device integrity and preventing unauthorized code execution. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-284 Access Control Issues and CWE-310 Cryptographic Issues, representing a failure in proper access controls and security enforcement mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows attackers to perform memory read and write operations across any memory location on the target device without proper authorization. The peek and poke commands enable direct memory manipulation, which can be leveraged to extract sensitive information, modify critical system components, or inject malicious code into the device's memory space. This represents a privilege escalation vulnerability that bypasses the secure boot process and allows for low-level system access that should normally be restricted to authorized parties only. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data access as it can enable full system compromise and persistent backdoor installation. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it provides a pathway for attackers to execute commands with elevated privileges and gain deeper system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3591 is substantial as it affects a broad spectrum of mobile devices that utilize affected Qualcomm chipsets, potentially compromising millions of devices globally. This vulnerability creates an entry point for sophisticated attacks that can lead to complete device takeover, data exfiltration, and persistent surveillance capabilities. The default enablement of insecure configurations means that devices are vulnerable out-of-the-box without requiring any user interaction or additional exploitation steps. Organizations and individuals using affected devices face significant risk of unauthorized access to personal data, financial information, and sensitive communications. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple chipset generations indicates a systemic issue in Qualcomm's default security configurations that required patching through official security updates.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the official security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers following the 2018-04-05 update cycle. Device users must ensure their systems are updated to the latest security patch levels to disable the problematic SKIP_SECBOOT_CHECK flag. Network administrators should implement device monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify affected devices within their environments and implement additional monitoring controls. The patching process addresses the root cause by disabling the insecure default configuration and restoring proper secure boot enforcement mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce secure configuration policies and provide additional layers of protection against such vulnerabilities.