CVE-2018-5822 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, compromised WLAN FW can potentially cause a buffer overwrite.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5822 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Qualcomm's Android-based platforms including MSM devices, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android implementations. This security weakness resides within the Linux kernel components that govern wireless local area network functionality, specifically impacting devices that utilize Qualcomm's wireless firmware. The vulnerability manifests when compromised wireless firmware attempts to process malformed data structures, creating conditions where memory boundaries are exceeded during buffer operations. The flaw affects all Android releases from the Common Android Framework (CAF) that incorporate the Linux kernel and remain unpatched beyond the security patch level of April 5, 2018, indicating a substantial attack surface across multiple device generations and manufacturers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the wireless firmware processing pipeline. When malicious or corrupted firmware attempts to communicate with the kernel's wireless subsystem, the buffer management mechanisms fail to properly bounds-check data transfers, allowing attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. This condition creates potential for arbitrary code execution within the kernel context, as attackers can manipulate memory layout to overwrite critical data structures or function pointers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially be exploited across multiple memory allocation types. The attack vector specifically targets the wireless firmware interface where device drivers interact with the kernel's network stack, creating an entry point for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5822 extends beyond simple data corruption, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain root-level privileges on affected devices. This vulnerability creates opportunities for persistent backdoors, data exfiltration, and complete device compromise through wireless network interfaces. Mobile devices utilizing affected Qualcomm chipsets become susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can leverage the buffer overflow to inject malicious code into the wireless firmware, potentially affecting device boot processes or network communication integrity. The vulnerability affects both enterprise and consumer devices, including smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices that rely on Qualcomm's wireless solutions, making it particularly concerning for organizations with mobile device management systems. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in complete loss of device security, as the compromised wireless subsystem can be used to establish persistent access points or to intercept network traffic, aligning with ATT&CK techniques for privilege escalation and persistence.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5822 focus primarily on applying the relevant security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected devices to security patch level 2018-04-05 or later, ensuring that wireless firmware components are properly validated and updated. Network administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous wireless traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while device security teams should consider implementing firmware integrity checks to verify wireless component authenticity. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure firmware update mechanisms and proper input validation in embedded systems, making it essential for device manufacturers to adopt secure coding practices that prevent buffer overflows in kernel-level components. Additionally, organizations should consider network segmentation strategies to limit the potential impact of wireless-based attacks and implement device authentication mechanisms that can detect compromised wireless interfaces. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations in mobile wireless subsystems and the necessity for comprehensive security testing of firmware components before deployment.