CVE-2018-5864 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
While processing a WMI_APFIND event 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 buffer over-read and information leak can potentially occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5864 represents a critical buffer over-read condition that affects Android devices utilizing Qualcomm chipsets and running Linux kernel-based operating systems. This flaw specifically manifests during the processing of WMI_APFIND events, which are part of the Windows Management Instrumentation interface used for system management and monitoring within the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability impacts all Android releases from Qualcomm Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android platforms, making it particularly widespread across mobile device implementations that rely on Qualcomm hardware components.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the kernel-level WMI event processing subsystem. When the system encounters a WMI_APFIND event, the kernel fails to properly validate the size of incoming data structures before attempting to read from memory buffers. This oversight creates a scenario where an attacker can craft malicious WMI events that cause the kernel to read beyond allocated buffer boundaries, leading to information leakage from adjacent memory regions. The buffer over-read occurs at the kernel level, meaning that the vulnerability operates with the highest privilege level and can potentially expose sensitive kernel memory contents including cryptographic keys, credentials, or other confidential data.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5864 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as this vulnerability can be exploited to gain insights into the kernel memory layout and potentially facilitate more sophisticated attacks. The information leak could reveal memory addresses, kernel structures, or other sensitive data that would aid attackers in bypassing security mitigations such as address space layout randomization. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation at kernel level can create exploitable conditions. The attack vector requires minimal privileges as the vulnerability exists within kernel processing of WMI events, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through legitimate system interfaces.
Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability was present in Android releases prior to the 2018-07-05 security patch level, indicating that devices manufactured with Qualcomm MSM chipsets and running affected Android versions would be susceptible to exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android variants including QRD Android, Firefox OS for MSM, and Android for MSM demonstrates the widespread nature of the issue across Qualcomm's mobile platform ecosystem. Organizations and device manufacturers should prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability could potentially enable privilege escalation attacks or facilitate further exploitation attempts. The remediation approach focuses on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms in the WMI event processing code and ensuring that all buffer operations are validated against their allocated sizes. This vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting legitimate credentials and privileges to gain system-level access, as the information leak could provide attackers with the necessary insights to bypass security protections.