CVE-2016-0822 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The MediaTek connectivity kernel driver in Android 6.0.1 before 2016-03-01 allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application that leverages conn_launcher access, aka internal bug 25873324.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/01/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0822 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the MediaTek connectivity kernel driver component of Android 6.0.1 operating systems. This issue specifically affects devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-03-01 security patch release, creating a persistent security risk for affected mobile platforms. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the conn_launcher component, which serves as a critical interface for managing connectivity services within the Android framework. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that leverage the elevated privileges associated with the conn_launcher access point, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries that should prevent unauthorized privilege escalation.
The technical flaw manifests through improper kernel-level access control mechanisms that fail to properly validate the privileges of applications attempting to interact with the MediaTek connectivity driver. This weakness falls under the category of privilege escalation vulnerabilities, specifically classified as CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management, where the kernel driver fails to enforce proper access restrictions that should prevent unauthorized applications from gaining elevated system privileges. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, as the attacker gains the same privileges as legitimate system components. The conn_launcher component, which typically serves as a trusted interface for connectivity management, becomes a vector for malicious code execution due to inadequate validation of the calling application's privilege level.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a pathway to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This capability enables a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to system modification, data exfiltration, persistence establishment, and complete device compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects devices running Android 6.0.1, which was widely deployed across multiple device manufacturers and models, potentially exposing millions of devices to exploitation. The exploitation requires only a crafted application, making it accessible to threat actors with moderate technical capabilities and reducing the barrier to successful attacks. From an attack chain perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of local privilege escalation techniques to gain elevated system access, and T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through legitimate system interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-0822 primarily focus on applying the official security patches released by Google and device manufacturers in their 2016-03-01 update cycle. Organizations and users must ensure that all affected Android devices receive the necessary security updates that address the improper privilege management within the MediaTek connectivity driver. Additionally, device administrators should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as maintain regular security audits of applications installed on affected devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security controls and proper privilege separation in mobile operating systems, emphasizing that even trusted system components can become attack vectors when access controls are insufficient. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional security measures such as kernel address space layout randomization and other exploit mitigation techniques to reduce the effectiveness of similar future vulnerabilities.