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CVE Record

CVE-2018-9440: In parse of M3UParser.cpp there is a possible resource exhaustion due to improper input validation.

In parse of M3UParser.cpp there is a possible resource exhaustion due to improper input validation. This could lead to denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.

MediumCVSS 6.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2018-9440 is an Android denial-of-service issue in M3U playlist parsing. A user must interact with malicious content, and the impact is availability, not data theft or code execution based on the provided sources.

Executive priority

Treat this as a moderate availability risk for older Android fleets. Prioritize remediation where affected devices support business operations, kiosk use, field operations, or other workflows where device denial of service disrupts service delivery.

Technical view

The issue is improper input validation in Android's M3UParser.cpp parse logic, allowing resource exhaustion. CVSS 3.1 is 6.5, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, required user interaction, and high availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most relevant to Android 7, 8, 8.1, 9, and listed Android development branches that process M3U playlist or related media content without the relevant vendor security update.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show active exploitation, and this CVE is not marked KEV. Exploitation requires user interaction, likely involving crafted media or playlist content being processed by an affected Android component.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports an Android framework/media parsing availability flaw, not privilege escalation or remote code execution. The sources do not provide exploit details, proof of exploitation, CWE mapping, or precise fixed build identifiers beyond the Android bulletin reference.

Mitigation direction

  • Apply Android and OEM security updates associated with the September 2018 Android bulletin.
  • Check vendor or OEM guidance for exact fixed builds and patch levels.
  • Retire or upgrade unsupported Android 7, 8, 8.1, or 9 devices where updates are unavailable.
  • Reduce handling of untrusted playlist or media content on unpatched affected devices.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory Android devices and record OS versions and security patch levels.
  • Compare devices against Google and OEM guidance for the September 2018 Android security bulletin.
  • Identify workflows or apps that process M3U playlist or media content on affected devices.
  • Confirm unsupported affected devices are upgraded, replaced, or risk-accepted.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
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

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CVE-2018-9440 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
6.5 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
6.5CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H2.83.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

6.5Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2018-9440Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/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
GoogleAndroid7, 8, 8.1, 9, nyc-mr1-dev, nyc-mr2-devunaffected
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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