CVE-2018-5873 Use after free in Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android
A race condition in the Linux kernel's namespace filesystem allows a use-after-free, potentially enabling local attackers to execute code or escalate privileges.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Any signed-in user
- Attackable
- Local or same network only
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2018-5873?
CVE-2018-5873 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Google Android, published on 6 Jul 2018. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Official description
An issue was discovered in the __ns_get_path function in fs/nsfs.c in the Linux kernel before 4.11. Due to a race condition when accessing files, a Use After Free condition can occur. This also affects all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel (Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android) before security patch level 2018-07-05.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-5873?
It affects 2 products.
Products include Google Android, Linux kernel.
How do I fix CVE-2018-5873?
Apply the vendor's patch.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2018-5873 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-5873 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Public exploit code: 1 proofs of concept on GitHub.
Other vulnerabilities in Google Android
Sources
Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2018-5873, GHSA-w7cq-36jp-q6wg, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-5873.