An application that allows users to gain full control -- root access -- over their Android devices is taking advantage of a security flaw in the Linux kernel that has remained unpatched in Android since its discovery two years ago.
The bug was originally fixed in the Linux kernel in April 2014, but wasn't flagged as a vulnerability until February 2015 when its security implications were understood and it received the CVE-2015-1805 identifier. Even then, the fix did not get ported to Android, which is based on the Linux kernel.
It wasn't until Feb. 19 that researchers from a security outfit called C0RE Team notified Google that the vulnerability could be exploited on Android in order to achieve privilege escalation -- the execution of code with the privileges of the root account
Google started working on a patch that was scheduled to be included in a future monthly update, but then on Mar. 15 researchers from mobile security team Zimperium alerted the company that this vulnerability was already being used to root devices.

Rooting refers to the process of removing the security restrictions normally enforced by Android for third-party applications and giving them full control over the device. Rooting is legitimately used by Android enthusiasts to unlock functionality that's not normally available on their devices, but can also be abused by malware.
Because of this, rooting tools are not allowed on the Google Play app store and their installation is detected and blocked locally through Android's built-in Verify Apps scanner.
"Google has confirmed the existence of a publicly available rooting application that abuses this vulnerability on Nexus 5 and Nexus 6 to provide the device user with root privileges," Google said in an emergency security advisory.
While this particular rooting tool is not classified as malicious, the danger exists that attackers could exploit the same vulnerability to spread malware.
Google has already shared patches for the flaw with device manufacturers and also published them to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) for the 3.4, 3.10 and 3.14 versions of the Android kernel. Versions 3.18 and above are not vulnerable.
The company also plans to include the patches in the April monthly security updates for its Nexus devices.
Meanwhile, users are advised to only download apps from Google Play and to have theVerify Apps setting turned on. Devices that list a security patch level of March 18, 2016 or later are already protected.
Source:http://www.newsdoggen.org/2016/03/google-on-android-flaw-used-root-acess-device.html
Seun, lalasticlala. this info is useful
lalasi

They should better let it be like that joor!

This news concerns nobody.

But as usual you just wan feel among say you create thread.

Your yeye copy and paste

What google seem not to understand is that the fact they gave companies an opportunity on the AOSP it has boosted the sales of the company and also breached the security of the Android OS.

As the popular saying goes, "you can't eat your cake and have it".
I'll just advise they go the ''iOS" way and stop selling their patent to other companies ELSE they'll just go extinct like the most used OS.. JAVA !!

Rapsowdee01:
What google seem not to understand is that the fact they gave companies an opportunity on the AOSP it has boosted the sales of the company and also breached the security of the Android OS.

As the popular saying goes, "you can't eat your cake and have it".
I'll just advise they go the ''iOS" way and stop selling their patent to other companies ELSE they'll just go extinct like the most used OS.. JAVA !!

What are you saying? The might of Android is/was given to it by the community. The community owns Android, Linux and Google is fully aware of this.

Most used OS Java. Mate?

seunajia:


What are you saying? The might of Android is/was given to it by the community. The community owns Android, Linux and Google is fully aware of this.

Most used OS Java. Mate?

Yeah java was the most used OS... Over 100 million phones had java OS on them

Rapsowdee01:


Yeah java was the most used OS... Over 100 million phones had java OS on them

OMG J2ME. How easy was it for me to forget? Apologies on that. Over 100 million is however an inadequate starting point. Over 1.5billion more like. Nokia S40 alone should account for a billion or more.

I think my confusion came from the fact that you called it Java. The only place I have heard that is Nigeria. It is J2ME or JME.

Rapsowdee01:


Yeah java was the most used OS... Over 100 million phones had java OS on them

Java is not an operating system

.

seunajia:


What are you saying? The might of Android is/was given to it by the community. The community owns Android, Linux and Google is fully aware of this.

Most used OS Java. Mate?

don't mind that dude, he knows nothing about the mobile market.

Avero:



Java is an operating system just like the Android and iOS, I it was the most used some years back. they every single phone that had data access back then ran on Java

java is not an operating system(OS).the first operating system for mobile fone his symbian OS follow blackberry,IOS,android & others

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donsunny22:

java is not an operating system(OS).the first operating system for mobile fone his symbian OS follow blackberry,IOS,android & others

so can u tell us what java is if not an os

donsunny22:

java is not an operating system(OS).the first operating system for mobile fone his symbian OS follow blackberry,IOS,android & others

alright, cool but tell me what operating system phones like the Nokia asha series, Nokia C(1,2,3) series etc ran on

It seems some people here started using phones few years ago....


Or how else will someone say Java/JME is not an OS.... My oh my!


**** Reminiscent of the Java king who's gone the way of Windows****

joey150:
This news concerns nobody.

But as usual you just wan feel among say you create thread.

Your yeye copy and paste

DONT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE. IT CONCERNS ME TOO BECAUSE AM AN ANDROID USER.

Alexanda07:


DONT SPEAK FOR EVERYONE. IT CONCERNS ME TOO BECAUSE AM AN ANDROID USER.

Ehen wetin u carry am do?

Android user na title now...wow

Avero:



Java is an operating system just like the Android and iOS, I it was the most used some years back. they every single phone that had data access back then ran on Java

Get your facts right before posting. Java is a programming language, not an operating system.

Most phone manufacturers then incorporated the Java platform on their devices so that it can run Java applications

Avero:


alright, cool but tell me what operating system phones like the Nokia asha series, Nokia C(1,2,3) series etc ran on

I don't think they have a well defined operating system.

seunajia:


OMG J2ME. How easy was it for me to forget? Apologies on that. Over 100 million is however an inadequate starting point. Over 1.5billion more like. Nokia S40 alone should account for a billion or more.

I think my confusion came from the fact that you called it Java. The only place I have heard that is Nigeria. It is J2ME or JME.

Yh.. j2me.. you know we nigerians generally called them java

Avero:


alright, cool but tell me what operating system phones like the Nokia asha series, Nokia C(1,2,3) series etc ran on

Mr man only smart phones run on OS

alright man... if you say so . I'll agree

Johnkantius97:

Get your facts right before posting. Java is a programming language, not an operating system.

Most phone manufacturers then incorporated the Java platform on their devices so that it can run Java applications

alright, cool thanks for enlightening me