Android’s March 2018 Patches Fix Critical, High Risk Flaws

Google has released its March 2018 set of security updates for Android to address numerous Critical and High severity vulnerabilities in the popular mobile operating system.

The majority of the Critical vulnerabilities addressed this month could allow an attacker to execute code remotely on affected devices. Impacted components include media framework, system, and kernel, Nvidia, and Qualcomm components.

A total of 16 vulnerabilities were addressed as part of the 2018-03-01 security patch level: 8 rated Critical severity and 8 considered High risk. The most severe of these vulnerabilities could allow a remote attacker using a specially crafted file to run arbitrary code with high privileges.

Four of the Critical flaws (three remote code execution bugs and one elevation of privilege issue) and two High risk bugs (elevation of privilege) were addressed in media framework. The remaining four Critical vulnerabilities (all remote code execution) and six High risk issues (information disclosure bugs) were resolved in system.

The 2018-03-05 security patch level addressed 21 vulnerabilities, only three of which were rated Critical severity. All of the remaining bugs were assessed High risk, Google notes in an advisory.

The flaws affect Kernel components (two elevation of privilege and four information disclosure High risk issues), NVIDIA components (two High risk elevation of privilege bugs), Qualcomm components (two Critical – remote code execution – and nine High risk – six elevation of privilege, two information disclosure, and one denial of service – vulnerabilities), and Qualcomm closed-source components (one Critical and one High risk).

Google also addressed over 40 vulnerabilities impacting its Pixel / Nexus devices this month, most of them rated Moderate severity.

A Moderate risk elevation of privilege issue was patched in framework, 2 High severity denial of service bugs were resolved in Media framework, and 2 elevation of privilege and 2 information disclosure vulnerabilities were fixed in system, all four Medium risk.

Google also addressed 1 High risk information disclosure and 5 Moderate elevation of privilege issues in kernel components, 3 moderate information disclosure bugs in Nvidia components, and 18 elevation of privilege and 9 information disclosure issues in Qualcomm components (all Modera
te severity).

Pixel 2 and Pixel 2 XL devices also received fixes for several functionality issues that were not related to the security of these devices. Instead, they improved screen wake performance with fingerprint unlock, audio performance when recording video, and crash reporting.

Related: Critical Code Execution Flaws Patched in Android

Related: Google Patches Multiple Critical, High Risk Vulnerabilities in Android

Related: Android’s December 2017 Patches Resolve Critical Flaws