Android Security

Google releases September 2018 Android Security Bulletin and Google Device Images

Google has released the September 2018 Android Security Bulletin. Partners have had access to the warnings in this month’s bulletin for at least a month.

The September bulletin has two security patch levels to provide Android partners with the flexibility to more quickly fix a subset of vulnerabilities that are similar across all Android devices.

  • 2018-09-01: Partial security patch level string. This security patch level string indicates that all issues associated with 2018-09-01 (and all previous security patch level strings) are addressed.
  • 2018-09-05: Complete security patch level string. This security patch level address all issues associated with the 2018-09-05 security patch level and all previous patch levels.

The most severe of these issues is a critical security vulnerability in Media framework that could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are turned off for development purposes or if successfully bypassed.

Alongside the bulletin, Google have released a security update to Google devices through an over-the-air (OTA) update. The Google device firmware images have also been released to the Google Developer site. Security patch levels of September 5, 2018 or later address all of these issues.

The tables below contains a list of security vulnerabilities, the Common Vulnerability and Exposures ID (CVE), the assessed severity, and whether or not Google devices are affected. The severity assessment is based on the effect that exploiting the vulnerability would possibly have on an affected device, assuming the platform and service mitigations are disabled for development purposes or if successfully bypassed.

Android and Google Service Mitigations

This is a summary of the mitigations provided by the Android security platform and service protections such as Google Play Protect. These capabilities reduce the likelihood that security vulnerabilities could be successfully exploited on Android.

  • Exploitation for many issues on Android is made more difficult by enhancements in newer versions of the Android platform. All users are encouraged to update to the latest version of Android where possible.
  • The Android security team actively monitors for abuse through Google Play Protect and warns users about Potentially Harmful Applications. Google Play Protect is enabled by default on devices with Google Mobile Services, and is especially important for users who install apps from outside of Google Play.

September 2018-08-01 security patch level—Vulnerability details

Android Runtime

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of an application that uses the library.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9466 A-62151041 RCE High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1
CVE-2018-9467 A-110955991 EoP High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9

Framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of an unprivileged process.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9469 A-109824443 EoP High 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9470 A-78290481 EoP High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9471 A-77599679 EoP High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9

Library

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of an application that uses the library.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9472 A-79662501 RCE High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1

Media Framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to bypass user interaction requirements to gain access to additional permissions.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9474 A-77600398 EoP High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9440 A-77823362 DoS Moderate 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9

System

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a local attacker to bypass user interaction requirements to gain access to additional permissions.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9475 A-79266386 EoP Critical 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9478 A-79217522 EoP Critical 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9479 A-79217770 EoP Critical 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9456 A-78136869 DoS High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1
CVE-2018-9477 A-92497653 EoP High 8.0, 8.1
CVE-2018-9480 A-109757168 ID High 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9481 A-109757435 ID High 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9482 A-109757986 ID High 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9483 A-110216173 ID High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9484 A-79488381 ID High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9485 A-80261585 ID High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9486 A-80493272 ID High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9487 A-69873852 DoS High 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9488 A-110107376 EoP Moderate 8.0, 8.1, 9

Update: Media Framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9411 A-79376389 RCE Critical 8.0, 8.1, 9
CVE-2018-9427 A-77486542 RCE Critical 8.0, 8.1, 9

September 2018-09-01 security patch level—Vulnerability details

Framework

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a local malicious application to bypass operating system protections that isolate application data from other applications.

CVE References Type Severity Updated AOSP versions
CVE-2018-9468 A-111084083 ID High 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1, 9

Kernel components

The most severe vulnerability in this section could enable a remote attacker to access data normally accessible only to locally installed applications with permissions.

CVE References Type Severity Component
CVE-2017-5754 A-69856074
Upstream kernel
ID High Kernel Memory

Qualcomm components

These vulnerabilities affect Qualcomm components and are described in further detail in the appropriate Qualcomm APSS security bulletin or security alert. Android partners can check applicability of their issues to their devices through Createpoint. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Qualcomm.

CVE References Type Severity Component
CVE-2018-11816 A-63527106
QC-CR#2119840
N/A High Video
CVE-2018-11261 A-64340487
QC-CR#2119840
N/A High Video
CVE-2018-11836 A-111128620
QC-CR#2214158
N/A High WLAN HOST
CVE-2018-11842 A-111124974
QC-CR#2216741
N/A High WLAN HOST
CVE-2018-11898 A-111128799
QC-CR#2233036
N/A High WLAN HOST
CVE-2017-15825 A-68992460
QC-CR#2096455
N/A Moderate Boot
CVE-2018-11270 A-109741697
QC-CR#2205728
N/A Moderate WiredConnectivity

Qualcomm closed-source components

These vulnerabilities affect Qualcomm components and are described in further detail in the appropriate Qualcomm AMSS security bulletin or security alert. Android partners can check applicability of their issues to their devices through Createpoint. The severity assessment of these issues is provided directly by Qualcomm.

CVE References Type Severity Component
CVE-2016-10394 A-68326803 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2017-18314 A-62213176 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2017-18311 A-73539234 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11950 A-72950814 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2018-5866 A-77484228 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11824 A-111090697 N/A Critical Closed-source component
CVE-2016-10408 A-68326811 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2017-18313 A-78240387 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2017-18312 A-78239234 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2017-18124 A-68326819 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-3588 A-71501117 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11951 A-72950958 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11952 A-74236425 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-5871 A-77484229 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-5914 A-79419793 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11288 A-109677940 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11285 A-109677982 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11290 A-109677964 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11292 A-109678202 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11287 A-109678380 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11846 A-111091377 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11855 A-111090533 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11857 A-111093202 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11858 A-111090698 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11866 A-111093021 N/A High Closed-source component
CVE-2018-11865 A-111093167 N/A High Closed-source component

 

Full details of the September 2018 Android Security Bulletin are available here.