CVE-2016-0833 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Android allows users to cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0833 represents a significant denial of service weakness within the Android operating system that affects multiple versions of the platform. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of certain system resources during specific user interactions, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to disrupt normal system operations. The flaw exists at the core level of Android's resource management mechanisms, where insufficient validation occurs when processing user-initiated events that trigger system resource allocation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition or improper resource cleanup mechanism within Android's kernel-level components. When users perform specific actions such as rapid input operations or manipulate system interfaces in particular sequences, the operating system fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation processes. This results in system resources becoming unavailable or corrupted, ultimately leading to complete system freeze or reboot cycles. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the Android framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect critical system services and user applications simultaneously.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to Android devices across various manufacturers and model lines. The denial of service condition can be triggered remotely through malicious applications or locally through user interaction with compromised interfaces. The impact extends beyond simple inconvenience as it can render devices completely unusable until manual intervention or device reboot occurs. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which specifically addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" in software systems, demonstrating how improper resource management can lead to system-wide failures. The attack surface is particularly broad since it can be exploited through normal user interactions without requiring special privileges or advanced technical knowledge.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched Android versions that address the resource management flaws in the kernel components. System administrators should monitor for unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while device manufacturers should ensure proper testing of resource management components before releasing updates. The vulnerability also relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service," highlighting the strategic importance of preventing such attacks in mobile environments where device availability is critical for business operations. Regular security assessments should include testing for similar resource consumption patterns to identify potential variants of this vulnerability in other Android components.