CVE-2016-0810 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
media/libmedia/SoundPool.cpp in mediaserver in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.x before 5.1.1 LMY49G, and 6.x before 2016-02-01 mishandles locking requirements, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, as demonstrated by obtaining Signature or SignatureOrSystem access, aka internal bug 25781119.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-0810 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Android media subsystem, specifically within the mediaserver process that handles audio processing operations. This issue affects multiple Android versions including 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before the 2016-02-01 security patch release, indicating a widespread impact across the Android platform. The vulnerability stems from improper locking mechanisms in the SoundPool.cpp component, which is responsible for managing audio sample playback and sound effects within the media framework. This flaw allows malicious applications to exploit race conditions and improper synchronization primitives to escalate their privileges within the system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate handling of mutex locks and synchronization primitives within the mediaserver's SoundPool implementation. When an attacker crafts a malicious application that interacts with the media subsystem, the improper locking mechanisms create opportunities for privilege escalation attacks. The flaw specifically enables attackers to obtain either Signature-level or SignatureOrSystem-level access, which provides significant control over system operations and application permissions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-362, which describes concurrent execution using shared resource vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper synchronization can lead to serious security implications in operating system components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it allows attackers to gain access to system-level capabilities that would normally be restricted to system applications or those with elevated permissions. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can effectively bypass the Android security model and gain unauthorized access to protected system resources, potentially enabling further attacks such as code execution, data theft, or system compromise. The attack vector requires a crafted application that can interact with the media subsystem, making it particularly concerning as it can be delivered through legitimate application channels. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Local Privilege Escalation' through improper locking mechanisms, and demonstrates how low-level system components can serve as attack vectors for broader system compromise.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular security updates, specifically targeting the affected Android versions. System administrators and device manufacturers should ensure that all affected devices receive the appropriate security updates, particularly the LMY49G patch release for Android 5.x systems. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting and monitoring of mediaserver processes to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper synchronization in system-level components and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of core platform services. Regular security audits of system libraries and components should be conducted to identify similar locking mechanism issues that could potentially lead to privilege escalation attacks.