CVE-2018-9339 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/19/2024
In writeTypedArrayList and readTypedArrayList of Parcel.java, there is a possible escalation of privilege due to type confusion. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9339 resides within the Android operating system's inter-process communication mechanism, specifically in the Parcel.java implementation that handles serialization and deserialization of typed arrays. This flaw manifests in the writeTypedArrayList and readTypedArrayList methods, which are fundamental components of Android's Binder IPC system used for passing complex data structures between processes. The vulnerability represents a critical type confusion issue that allows malicious applications to manipulate data types during the marshaling process, potentially enabling unauthorized privilege escalation.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient type validation during the parceling process where the system fails to properly verify the expected data types during serialization and deserialization operations. When an application attempts to write or read typed ArrayList structures through the Parcel mechanism, the system does not adequately enforce type consistency between the source and destination data structures. This type confusion allows an attacker to craft malicious data that appears to be of one type but is actually interpreted as another, potentially leading to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-129 as "Improper Validation of Array Index" and specifically relates to improper type handling in Android's IPC framework.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9339 is severe as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any user interaction or additional execution privileges. An attacker with a malicious application installed on the device can exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, potentially allowing them to access sensitive system resources, modify system files, or execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions. This vulnerability affects Android versions prior to 2018 and represents a significant threat to Android's security model, as it undermines the fundamental isolation guarantees provided by the operating system's process separation mechanisms. The exploitation occurs entirely within the context of the Android framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional application sandboxing measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which include enhanced type validation checks in the Parcel.java implementation and improved bounds checking during array operations. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected Android devices receive timely updates. Additionally, security researchers recommend monitoring for suspicious IPC activity and implementing runtime integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and demonstrates how flaws in system-level components can be leveraged to achieve unauthorized access to privileged system resources. Network administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for unusual process behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.