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CVE Record

CVE-2018-9409: In HWCSession::SetColorModeById of hwc_session.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missin...

In HWCSession::SetColorModeById of hwc_session.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds write due to a missing bounds check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.

HighCVSS 7.8Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-9409 is an Android 8.1 local privilege escalation issue. A flaw in display color-mode handling could let a local app or actor gain higher privileges without user interaction. It is serious for unmanaged or outdated Android 8.1 devices, but the provided sources do not show remote exploitation or active exploitation.

Executive priority

Treat this as a high-priority legacy Android exposure issue, especially where Android 8.1 devices handle sensitive data or operate in shared environments. Prioritize update verification and lifecycle decisions over emergency incident response unless internal telemetry shows suspicious local activity.

Technical view

The issue is a missing bounds check in HWCSession::SetColorModeById in hwc_session.cpp, causing a possible out-of-bounds write. It is classified as CWE-787 with CVSS 3.1 score 7.8: local access, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure appears limited to Google Android 8.1 systems with the affected hardware composer code path. Organizations are most likely exposed through legacy phones, tablets, dedicated Android devices, or embedded Android deployments that have not received relevant vendor security updates.

Exploitation context

The source bundle states local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges and no user interaction. CISA KEV status is false, and the supplied sources do not provide evidence of active exploitation, public exploit use, or remote attack paths.

Researcher notes

The available evidence identifies the vulnerable function and impact class but does not include exploit details, affected device models, or OEM-specific patch status. Validation should focus on source-level advisory mapping, Android patch levels, and vendor firmware lineage rather than assumptions about all Android releases.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Android 8.1 devices, including embedded and kiosk deployments.
  • Review the Android June 2018 Security Bulletin and OEM advisories.
  • Apply relevant vendor or OEM security updates where available.
  • Retire or isolate devices that cannot receive applicable updates.
  • Restrict installation of untrusted local applications on exposed Android 8.1 devices.

Validation and detection

  • Confirm whether any managed devices still run Android 8.1.
  • Check each device security patch level against vendor guidance.
  • Verify OEM firmware includes the relevant Android bulletin fixes.
  • Review MDM records for legacy Android devices outside update policy.
  • Document unsupported devices and compensating controls.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
3

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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 · low confidence lookup

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.

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2018-9409 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.8 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
2Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.8CVSS 3.1HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

7.8High
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2018-9409Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
GoogleAndroid8.1unaffected
Weakness

CWE details

CWE-787

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.