CVE-2018-5859 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Due to a race condition in the MDSS MDP driver in all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel (Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) before security patch level 2018-07-05, a Use After Free condition can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5859 represents a critical race condition flaw within the MDSS MDP driver component of Android systems based on the Linux kernel. This issue affects all Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum (CAF) that utilize the Linux kernel including Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android platforms. The vulnerability exists in systems prior to the security patch level 2018-07-05, making it a widespread concern across multiple device manufacturers and operating system variants. The MDSS MDP driver serves as a crucial component for managing display processing and graphics operations within these systems, handling tasks related to multimedia display subsystems and graphics rendering functions.
The technical flaw manifests as a race condition that creates a use after free condition within the driver's memory management operations. This race condition occurs during concurrent access scenarios where multiple threads or processes attempt to access and manipulate the same memory resources without proper synchronization mechanisms. When the driver processes display-related operations, particularly those involving memory allocation and deallocation for graphics processing, the lack of proper locking mechanisms allows for a scenario where a memory block is freed while still being referenced by another process or thread. This creates a use after free vulnerability that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or instability, as it provides potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and system compromise. An attacker exploiting this race condition could potentially gain elevated privileges within the system by manipulating the freed memory block to redirect execution flow or inject malicious code into the graphics processing pipeline. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android variants and device manufacturers means that a successful exploitation could affect a broad range of devices, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. The use after free condition creates opportunities for memory corruption attacks that align with common exploit patterns described in the attack mitigation framework, particularly those targeting kernel memory management subsystems.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-367, which identifies Time-of-Check to Time-of-Use (TOCTOU) flaws, and also relates to CWE-416, describing the use of freed memory condition. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the MDSS MDP driver operates at a low level within the system kernel, providing access to critical graphics and display subsystems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability could be leveraged for privilege escalation through kernel exploits and potentially for information gathering or system persistence mechanisms. The race condition nature of the flaw suggests that exploitation might require specific timing conditions and could be difficult to reproduce consistently, though the widespread nature of affected systems makes it a significant concern for security professionals. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms, updating to patched versions, and potentially disabling vulnerable display subsystems until comprehensive updates are deployed across affected device fleets.