CVE-2018-9455 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In sdpu_extract_attr_seq of sdp_utils.cc, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an incorrect bounds check. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android Versions: Android-6.0 Android-6.0.1 Android-7.0 Android-7.1.1 Android-7.1.2 Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android ID: A-78136677.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2018-9455 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Bluetooth service implementation of Android operating systems. This issue resides in the sdpu_extract_attr_seq function located in the sdp_utils.cc source file, which is part of the Bluetooth service daemon responsible for handling Service Discovery Protocol operations. The flaw stems from an inadequate bounds checking mechanism that fails to properly validate array access boundaries during attribute sequence extraction processes. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which specifically addresses issues where array indices are not properly validated before use, leading to potential memory access violations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through malformed Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol packets that can be transmitted over the air without requiring any user interaction or privileged execution context. When the Bluetooth service processes these malicious packets, the flawed bounds checking allows an attacker to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially causing the system to crash or behave unpredictably. This creates a remote denial of service condition where an attacker can disrupt Bluetooth functionality on affected Android devices simply by sending specially crafted packets to the target device. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Android versions including 6.0, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, and 8.1, indicating it was present across multiple major Android releases and likely persisted through several security updates.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a significant security risk within the Bluetooth communication stack of affected Android devices. The remote nature of exploitation means that attackers can target devices without physical proximity or user interaction, making it particularly concerning for mobile devices that frequently connect to various Bluetooth services. This vulnerability could be leveraged by threat actors to create persistent denial of service conditions that would affect critical Bluetooth-dependent services such as wireless headphones, car entertainment systems, smart home devices, and other IoT peripherals that rely on Bluetooth connectivity. The lack of required privileges for exploitation further amplifies the risk, as any attacker with access to the Bluetooth network can potentially trigger the vulnerability.
From a security mitigation perspective, Android vendors addressed this vulnerability through the standard security update process, with patches released as part of the Android security bulletins for the affected versions. The fix implemented involved correcting the bounds checking logic within the sdpu_extract_attr_seq function to properly validate array access limits before performing memory operations. Organizations and users should ensure that all affected Android devices receive the appropriate security updates as soon as they become available. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers Local Privilege Escalation, though in this case it operates through remote exploitation rather than local access. Additionally, this issue demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in network services and highlights the need for robust bounds checking mechanisms in system-level code processing network protocols, particularly those handling untrusted input from remote sources.