CVE-2017-15823

Vulnerability

In spectral_create_samp_msg() within Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android prior to 2017-10-11, values received from firmware are not properly validated, leading to a potential buffer overflow. The affected code path is reachable when the firmware supplies crafted data to this function.

Exploitation

An attacker with the ability to control firmware input (e.g., via a compromised modem or baseband) can supply oversized or malformed values. No additional authentication or user interaction is required; the overflow occurs during message creation in kernel or driver context.

Impact

Successful exploitation results in memory corruption beyond the intended buffer, which may cause denial of service or arbitrary code execution at the kernel privilege level, compromising the entire device.

Mitigation

A fix was included in the Pixel/Nexus Security Bulletin—February 2018 (reference [1]), targeting Android builds after 2017-10-11. For other affected platforms (Firefox OS, QRD Android), updates should follow vendor advisories. No workaround is publicly documented; applying the patch is the sole mitigation.