Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9389 is an Android kernel flaw where IPv6 packet-building code can overflow heap memory. The source states this may allow local privilege escalation and possible code execution without user interaction. Business impact is mainly exposed Android or Pixel devices running an affected kernel, not remote internet-facing systems.
Executive priority
Treat this as a moderate endpoint hardening issue. It is not documented as actively exploited in the provided sources, but local kernel privilege escalation can increase the impact of malware or device compromise on unpatched Android fleets.
Technical view
The issue is in ip6_append_data in ip6_output.c and is classified as CWE-787 out-of-bounds write. CVSS 3.1 is 5.1 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and limited confidentiality and integrity impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure appears limited to Android devices with the affected Android kernel lineage. The provided bundle does not identify precise Android versions, device models, or OEM downstream status beyond Google Android Kernel context and the Pixel June 2018 bulletin reference.
Exploitation context
The bundle says exploitation needs local access but no extra privileges or user interaction. CISA KEV is false, and no cited source in the bundle confirms active exploitation, public exploit availability, or weaponized use.
Researcher notes
Key evidence is concise: Android kernel heap overflow in IPv6 output handling, possible code execution, local privilege escalation, no user interaction, CVSS 5.1. The bundle lacks patch commit details, affected kernel ranges, exploit telemetry, and OEM-specific remediation mapping.
Mitigation direction
- Review the Pixel June 2018 bulletin and applicable Android vendor guidance.
- Apply OEM or carrier security updates that address CVE-2018-9389.
- Prioritize managed Android devices with old kernel security patch levels.
- Remove unsupported Android devices from sensitive environments.
- Monitor vendor advisories for device-specific backport status.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android and Pixel devices by model, kernel, and security patch level.
- Confirm whether each OEM maps CVE-2018-9389 to a delivered update.
- Check MDM records for devices missing relevant Android security updates.
- Flag unsupported devices that cannot receive kernel fixes.
- Document exceptions where vendor impact data is unavailable.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-9389 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 5.1 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N2.52.5Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
5.1MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/pixel/2018-06-01CVE reference
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.