# CVE-2018-5841: Null dereference in Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android

> An uninitialized variable in the Qualcomm Android kernel can lead to invalid memory access, potentially causing a denial of service.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 6 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 16 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-gg75-8696-pm3p

## What is CVE-2018-5841?

CVE-2018-5841 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 6 Jun 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

dcc_curr_list is initialized with a default invalid value that is expected to be programmed by the user through a sysfs node which could lead to an invalid access in all Android releases from CAF (Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) using the Linux Kernel.

Weakness: CWE-1188 (Initialization of a Resource with an Insecure Default)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-5841?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Google Android.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-5841?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-5841 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-5841 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5841 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Google Android

- [CVE-2026-58704](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-58704/): Google Pixel Improper Authorization (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48543](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48543/): Android Runtime Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-35674](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-35674/): Android Framework Privilege Escalation (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2025-48595](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-48595/): Android Framework Integer Overflow (high 8.4, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2024-32896](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-32896/): Android Pixel Privilege Escalation (high 8.1, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-5841 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-5841 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Android, published on 6 Jun 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5841 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Google Android. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5841/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5841/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-5841
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5841
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-5841

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-5841/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.