CVE-2018-5886 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A pointer in an ADSPRPC command is not properly validated in all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel (Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android), which can lead to kernel memory being accessed.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-5886 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Android for MSM platform family, affecting multiple Android releases including those from CAF using the Linux kernel. This flaw manifests in the ADSPRPC (Audio Digital Signal Processing Remote Procedure Call) subsystem which serves as a communication interface between application processors and audio digital signal processors in mobile devices. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of pointer parameters within ADSPRPC commands, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized memory access within the kernel space. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory corruption issues that can be exploited to gain elevated privileges or cause system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the ADSPRPC subsystem processes incoming commands without adequate verification of pointer values, allowing potentially malicious or malformed pointers to be dereferenced within kernel memory. This pointer validation failure creates a condition where arbitrary kernel memory locations could be accessed, modified, or read, depending on the specific nature of the exploitation attempt. The vulnerability affects Android for MSM platforms, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android releases, indicating it impacts a significant portion of Qualcomm-based mobile devices. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which specifically addresses situations where memory is accessed beyond the intended boundaries, and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which covers scenarios involving unauthorized memory modifications. The exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within kernel space, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-5886 extends beyond simple memory access violations, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in kernel security boundaries that could allow for privilege escalation attacks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain root access to affected devices, potentially enabling them to extract sensitive user data, install malicious applications, or modify system integrity. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects multiple Android variants including Firefox OS for MSM, indicating it could impact a wide range of mobile devices across different manufacturers. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where adversaries exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems to gain elevated privileges, and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, which could be employed to execute malicious code once kernel access is obtained.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-5886 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and system administrators, with the primary approach being the application of security patches provided by Qualcomm and Google. The vulnerability necessitates proper pointer validation mechanisms within the ADSPRPC subsystem to ensure that all incoming command pointers are thoroughly verified before any memory access operations occur. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected devices, particularly those running Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android versions. Additionally, implementing kernel memory protection features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space layout randomization can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in kernel-level components and highlights the necessity of comprehensive security testing for all system subsystems that handle inter-process communication, particularly those involving DSP components that require direct hardware access. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other kernel subsystems.