CVE-2018-3597 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In the ADSP RPC driver in Android releases from CAF using the linux kernel (Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) before security patch level 2018-06-05, an arbitrary kernel write can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-3597 represents a critical kernel-level flaw within the ADSP RPC driver component of Android systems developed by Code Aurora Forum and utilizing the Linux kernel. This vulnerability affects multiple Android variants including Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android platforms. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory management controls within the remote procedure call mechanism that governs communication between the application processor and the Audio Digital Signal Processor. The flaw specifically manifests as an arbitrary kernel write condition that allows malicious actors to write data to arbitrary memory locations within the kernel space, potentially compromising the entire system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the ADSP RPC driver's handling of user-supplied data. When legitimate applications or malicious entities submit RPC requests to the ADSP subsystem, the driver fails to properly validate the size and content of incoming parameters before processing them. This lack of proper bounds checking enables an attacker to craft specially crafted RPC requests that can overwrite kernel memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual exploitation occurs in kernel space rather than user space, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the most privileged level of the operating system. The attack surface is expanded by the fact that this vulnerability exists in multiple Android variants, increasing the potential impact across different device manufacturers and hardware platforms.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3597 is severe and multifaceted, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code at kernel level with full system privileges. This arbitrary kernel write vulnerability can be leveraged to escalate privileges from a regular user or application context to root level access, effectively compromising the entire device. Attackers can use this vulnerability to install persistent backdoors, modify system binaries, disable security features, or extract sensitive data from the device. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through compromised applications or services that communicate with the ADSP subsystem, making it particularly dangerous for mobile devices that frequently connect to untrusted networks. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence in multiple Android variants and hardware platforms means that a successful exploitation could affect a wide range of devices, from smartphones to tablets and embedded systems, creating a significant threat landscape for organizations and individuals alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-3597 must be implemented at multiple levels to address the vulnerability effectively. The primary and most effective mitigation involves applying the security patch released by Google and device manufacturers on or before June 5, 2018, which includes proper input validation and memory management fixes within the ADSP RPC driver. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect suspicious RPC traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers should consider implementing additional kernel hardening measures such as kernel address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1055.001 for privilege escalation and T1068 for local privilege escalation, indicating that defensive measures should focus on monitoring kernel-level activities and implementing least privilege principles for RPC services. Furthermore, regular security audits of kernel modules and driver components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that might exist in other system components.