CVE-2018-9376 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/02/2024
In rpc_msg_handler and related handlers of drivers/misc/mediatek/eccci/port_rpc.c, there is a possible out of bounds write due to an incorrect bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with System execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9376 resides within the MediaTek embedded communication control interface driver component, specifically in the rpc_msg_handler function and associated handlers located in drivers/misc/mediatek/eccci/port_rpc.c. This issue represents a critical security flaw that affects devices utilizing MediaTek chipsets, particularly those employing the embedded communication controller interface for device communication. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that occurs due to an insufficient validation of input parameters during message processing operations.
The technical flaw stems from an incorrect bounds check implementation that fails to properly validate the size and boundaries of data structures being processed by the RPC message handler. When processing incoming messages through the embedded communication controller interface, the system does not adequately verify that the received data fits within the allocated buffer space or meets expected parameter constraints. This inadequate validation allows an attacker to craft malicious input that exceeds the intended buffer boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an Improper Validation of Array Index, which specifically addresses issues where array indices are not properly validated before use.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, as it enables local privilege escalation from a standard user context to system-level privileges without requiring any user interaction for exploitation. This means that an attacker with access to the device can leverage this flaw to gain full system control, potentially allowing them to modify system files, install malicious software, or extract sensitive information from the device. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the kernel space of the operating system, making it extremely difficult to detect and prevent through traditional user-space security measures. The vulnerability affects devices running Linux-based operating systems that incorporate MediaTek's embedded communication controller interface, particularly those using the ECCCI (Embedded Communication and Control Interface) driver components.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Local Privilege Escalation" and specifically addresses kernel-level exploitation techniques. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a kernel exploit that can be leveraged to bypass security controls and gain administrative access to the system. The lack of user interaction requirement makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without the need for social engineering or user deception tactics. Organizations and device manufacturers should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority issue requiring immediate attention and remediation through firmware updates and kernel patches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9376 should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the affected driver code to ensure all input data is validated before processing. System administrators should prioritize applying official firmware updates and kernel patches provided by device manufacturers and MediaTek to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel address space layout randomization can help mitigate the impact of similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits of kernel components and driver code should be conducted to identify and remediate potential buffer overflow conditions and other memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper input validation in kernel-space code and the potential consequences of inadequate bounds checking mechanisms in embedded system components.