Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9462 is an Android kernel flaw in ftm4_pdc.c where an incorrect bounds check can allow an out-of-bounds write. The business concern is local privilege escalation: an attacker with local low-level access could potentially gain higher privileges without user interaction.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority legacy Android patching issue, not an internet-facing emergency. The key risk is compromised local access becoming higher privilege on vulnerable devices.
Technical view
The issue is in store_cmd of ftm4_pdc.c and is classified as CWE-787. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8, with local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to Android kernel builds containing the vulnerable ftm4_pdc.c code path. The provided sources reference Google Android Kernel and the Pixel August 2018 security bulletin, but do not enumerate every affected device model or build.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation is described as local, requiring privileges but no user interaction. No exploit details are provided in the sources.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports a local Android kernel out-of-bounds write in store_cmd. The sources do not provide device-specific affected ranges, exploit availability, or standalone mitigations beyond vendor security bulletin tracking.
Mitigation direction
- Check Google and device-vendor guidance for CVE-2018-9462 patch status.
- Verify Android security patch levels against the August 2018 Pixel bulletin.
- Prioritize updates for devices handling sensitive data or privileged enterprise access.
- Retire or isolate Android devices that cannot receive relevant security updates.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android devices and record model, kernel build, and security patch level.
- Compare device patch status with Google Pixel August 2018 bulletin guidance.
- Confirm vulnerability scanners map findings specifically to CVE-2018-9462.
- Review mobile fleet compliance for outdated or unsupported Android builds.
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
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2018-9462 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- 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
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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/pixel/2018-08-01CVE 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.