Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2018-9464 is an Android kernel issue where missing permission checks may let a local attacker read protected files. Google describes possible local privilege escalation with no user interaction. The source bundle does not identify exact vulnerable kernel versions, affected device models, or active exploitation.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for legacy or unmanaged Android fleets, especially devices with enterprise access. The risk is high because compromise could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability, but urgency is moderated by the absence of cited active exploitation evidence.
Technical view
The vulnerability is reported in multiple Android kernel locations and is associated with protected-file access caused by missing permission checks. CVSS 3.1 is 7.8, local attack vector, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most relevant to Android devices running affected kernel builds before the relevant Google Pixel security bulletin remediation. The provided affected data names Google Android Kernel but does not list exact versions, device models, or CPEs.
Exploitation context
The bundle marks KEV as false and cites no active exploitation. Exploitation is local, requires low privileges, and does not require user interaction. No exploit method or public weaponization evidence is provided in the sources.
Researcher notes
Evidence is thin: the CVE text gives impact and prerequisites but not exact vulnerable code paths, affected version ranges, or fix commits. The listed CWE-125 does not fully align with the missing-permission-check description, so validate against vendor bulletin data before scoping.
Mitigation direction
- Apply the relevant Android or Pixel security update covering CVE-2018-9464.
- Check device vendor guidance for exact fixed patch levels and supported models.
- Retire or isolate unsupported Android devices that cannot receive the fix.
- Limit installation of untrusted local applications on unpatched devices.
- Prioritize devices handling sensitive data or privileged enterprise access.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Android devices, kernel versions, models, and security patch levels.
- Compare patch levels with Google Pixel August 2018 bulletin guidance.
- Confirm CVE-2018-9464 remediation status in MDM or vulnerability management records.
- Identify unsupported devices that cannot receive vendor security updates.
- Review unpatched devices for exposure to untrusted local applications.
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-125: 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 lookupCVE-2018-9464 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
- 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 Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.