CVE-2016-0819 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm performance component in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.x before 5.1.1 LMY49H, and 6.x before 2016-03-01 allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 25364034.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0819 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm performance component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability affects Android versions 4.x prior to 4.4.4, 5.x prior to 5.1.1 LMY49H, and 6.x prior to the 2016-03-01 security patch release. The issue stems from improper input validation and privilege handling within the Qualcomm performance management services that are integral to Android's system-level operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it allows attackers with a malicious application to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system-level access, effectively bypassing Android's security model.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the Qualcomm performance component's failure to properly validate input parameters when processing requests from applications. This flaw creates a privilege escalation vector where a crafted application can manipulate the performance component's behavior to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-264, which deals with Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, specifically focusing on improper privileges. The attack surface is expanded through the use of the Android binder mechanism, which allows inter-process communication between applications and system services. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted requests that bypass normal access controls, leveraging the component's trust relationship with the Android system.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across multiple attack vectors. Successful exploitation enables attackers to gain complete system control, allowing them to install malicious applications, access sensitive user data, modify system configurations, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects all devices running the affected Android versions and Qualcomm processors, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where device security is paramount. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to execute arbitrary commands and scripts. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it requires no user interaction to exploit, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must include immediate patching of affected Android systems with the relevant security updates released by Google and Qualcomm. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies that ensure all Android devices receive timely security updates. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, mobile device management platforms should enforce strict application vetting processes to prevent installation of potentially malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices and proper privilege management in system-level components, highlighting the need for regular security assessments of vendor-specific implementations within mobile operating systems.