CVE-2018-3598 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Qualcomm Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android with all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel before security patch level 2018-04-05, insufficient validation of parameters from userspace in the camera driver can lead to information leak and out-of-bounds access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm's Android implementations across multiple platforms including MSM devices, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android systems. The issue stems from inadequate parameter validation within the camera driver component of the Linux kernel, which creates a critical security gap that affects all Android releases from the Common Android Framework (CAF) that were deployed before the security patch level of April 5, 2018. The flaw represents a fundamental weakness in the kernel's input sanitization mechanisms, allowing malicious actors to exploit improper validation checks that should have prevented dangerous parameter values from reaching the driver's core functionality. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation through kernel exploits.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves userspace applications sending malformed or excessive parameters to the camera driver through kernel interfaces. When these parameters are not properly validated, they can cause the driver to access memory locations beyond its intended boundaries or read sensitive kernel memory areas. The information leak aspect occurs when the driver inadvertently exposes kernel memory contents to userspace processes, potentially revealing sensitive system information, cryptographic keys, or other confidential data. The out-of-bounds access can manifest as memory corruption that may lead to system instability, denial of service conditions, or more severe exploitation scenarios where attackers could leverage the information leak to bypass security protections. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level and requires elevated privileges to exploit effectively, though the information leak aspect can be accessed by any userspace process with camera permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-3598 extends across numerous mobile devices that utilize Qualcomm's MSM chipsets, affecting a wide range of smartphones, tablets, and other mobile computing devices. The vulnerability's presence in Firefox OS for MSM and QRD Android implementations means that multiple operating system variants are at risk, creating a significant attack surface for adversaries targeting mobile platforms. Devices running on affected Android versions before the 2018-04-05 security patch are particularly vulnerable, as these systems lack the parameter validation improvements that were introduced in the subsequent security updates. The information leak component poses a serious threat to device confidentiality and could enable attackers to extract sensitive system information that would aid in more sophisticated attacks. The out-of-bounds access capability creates potential for system instability and could be leveraged as a stepping stone for privilege escalation attacks. Organizations and users operating devices with affected software versions face significant risk of data compromise and system integrity violations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the relevant security patches released by Qualcomm and Android vendors. System administrators should prioritize updating devices to security patch level 2018-04-05 or later, which includes the necessary parameter validation fixes in the camera driver components. Device manufacturers and carriers must ensure that their update distribution mechanisms are functioning properly to deliver these critical security patches to end users. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring and intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts of this vulnerability. Network administrators should consider restricting camera access permissions for applications that do not require such capabilities, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The mitigation efforts should also include monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or information disclosure events that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining devices that may still be running vulnerable software versions. Security teams should also consider implementing device enrollment and patch management policies to ensure comprehensive coverage of all affected systems within their operational environments.