CVE-2018-9552 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In ihevcd_sao_shift_ctb of ihevcd_sao.c there is a possible out of bounds write due to missing bounds check. This could lead to information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: Android-7.0 Android-7.1.1 Android-7.1.2 Android-8.0 Android-8.1 Android-9. Android ID: A-113260892.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9552 resides within the ihevcd_sao_shift_ctb function of the ihevcd_sao.c file in Android's media processing framework. This issue represents a classic out-of-bounds write condition that occurs when the system fails to validate array indices before performing memory operations. The flaw specifically affects the HEVC video decoding component where the software processes sample adaptive offset data structures during video frame reconstruction. The missing bounds check allows an attacker to potentially write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, creating a scenario where adjacent memory locations could be overwritten or accessed improperly.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, typically through the presentation of a maliciously crafted video file or media content that triggers the vulnerable decoding path. This makes the attack surface more constrained compared to fully autonomous vulnerabilities, but still poses significant risks given the widespread use of Android devices. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, and 9.0, indicating it was present across several major Android releases and likely represents a long-standing issue in the media processing pipeline. The Android ID A-113260892 further identifies this as a specific issue within Google's internal tracking system for security vulnerabilities.
The potential impact of this vulnerability extends to information disclosure scenarios where the out-of-bounds write could expose sensitive memory contents to an attacker. While the vulnerability does not require additional execution privileges beyond normal user access, it can potentially reveal confidential information stored in adjacent memory locations. The nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and more specifically relates to CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write conditions. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged by attackers to extract device-specific information, potentially including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other sensitive data that might be stored in memory adjacent to the vulnerable buffer.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in multimedia processing components where complex data structures are manipulated. The attack vector typically involves crafting specially formatted video content that when processed through the vulnerable HEVC decoder triggers the out-of-bounds write condition. Security professionals should note that this issue represents a common class of vulnerabilities in multimedia libraries where buffer management and bounds checking are insufficiently implemented. The recommended mitigations include applying the latest security patches from Google, implementing proper bounds checking in the affected code, and potentially employing address space layout randomization or other memory protection mechanisms to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious media content to affected devices. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of comprehensive testing and validation of media processing components, particularly those handling complex video codecs like HEVC that involve sophisticated data structures and memory operations.