CVE-2024-53839
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows an attacker to read memory beyond intended boundaries in the GetCellInfoList() function of Android's protocolnetadapter.cpp. It could lead to local information disclosure, but requires baseband firmware compromise for exploitation. Affects Android devices, particularly Google Pixel phones.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Pixel phones
- Android devices with similar baseband implementations
📦 What is this software?
Android by Google
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Local information disclosure of sensitive memory contents, potentially exposing credentials, encryption keys, or other protected data.
Likely Case
Limited information disclosure of non-critical memory regions due to baseband firmware compromise requirement.
If Mitigated
No impact if baseband firmware is secure and proper memory protections are in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires compromising baseband firmware first, which is technically challenging and device-specific.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: December 2024 Android security patch or later
Vendor Advisory: https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/pixel/2024-12-01
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Check for system updates in Settings > System > System update. 2. Install December 2024 security patch or later. 3. Reboot device after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable unnecessary baseband features
androidReduce attack surface by disabling unused cellular network features
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Isolate affected devices from sensitive networks and data
- Implement strict app installation policies to prevent malicious apps
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Android security patch level in Settings > About phone > Android version. If before December 2024, device is vulnerable.Check Version:
adb shell getprop ro.build.version.security_patchVerify Fix Applied:
Verify security patch level shows December 2024 or later in Settings > About phone > Android version.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual baseband firmware access attempts
- Memory access violations in system logs
Network Indicators:
- Anomalous baseband communication patterns
SIEM Query:
source="android_system" AND (event="memory_violation" OR event="baseband_access")