CVE-2018-9529 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In ixheaacd_individual_ch_stream of ixheaacd_channel.c there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to remote code execution with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: Android-9. Android ID: A-112551874
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9529 represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw within the audio decoding component of Android systems. This issue resides in the ixheaacd_individual_ch_stream function located in the ixheaacd_channel.c source file, which forms part of the audio processing pipeline responsible for handling individual channel streams. The vulnerability stems from the absence of proper bounds checking mechanisms that should validate input data limits before writing to memory locations. This missing validation creates an exploitable condition where maliciously crafted audio data could trigger memory corruption during the decoding process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for remote code execution without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond the initial exploitation vector. This means that an attacker could potentially deliver malicious audio content through network channels such as email attachments, web downloads, or streaming services without needing to establish a pre-existing foothold on the target device. The flaw specifically affects Android 9.0 systems and is tracked under Android ID A-112551874, indicating its classification within Google's internal vulnerability tracking system. The absence of privilege escalation requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by threat actors with minimal access requirements.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to mobile device security and user privacy. The out-of-bounds write condition can potentially overwrite adjacent memory regions, leading to arbitrary code execution that could allow attackers to gain full control over affected devices. The requirement for user interaction suggests that exploitation would typically occur through social engineering tactics or when users consume media content from untrusted sources. This vulnerability impacts the core audio processing functionality of Android devices and could be leveraged for various malicious activities including data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, or further exploitation of other system components.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple exploitation as it represents a fundamental flaw in input validation that could potentially be combined with other techniques to create more sophisticated attack vectors. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Android 9.0 systems and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should avoid consuming media content from untrusted sources and maintain updated security software to minimize exposure to this and related vulnerabilities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of rigorous input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing components, particularly those handling user-supplied content that may be subject to malicious manipulation.