CVE-2016-10280 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek thermal driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-28175767. References: M-ALPS02696445.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10280 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek thermal driver component of Android systems. This issue resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for managing thermal conditions and temperature monitoring within MediaTek-based devices. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the driver's implementation, creating a pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with kernel-level permissions. The flaw specifically affects the thermal management subsystem that interfaces between hardware temperature sensors and the Android operating system's power management frameworks. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability first need to compromise a privileged process or gain initial access to the device, after which they can leverage the driver's insecure implementation to elevate their privileges and achieve kernel-level code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging weaknesses in the thermal driver's handling of user-space input parameters and system calls. The driver fails to properly validate the data structures and parameters passed to it from user applications, creating opportunities for buffer overflows, integer overflows, or other memory corruption issues that can be manipulated to overwrite kernel memory regions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability's classification as high severity reflects the significant operational impact that kernel-level privilege escalation can have on device security and integrity. When successfully exploited, the malicious application gains complete control over the device's kernel, enabling it to bypass all security mechanisms, access any system resource, and potentially install persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass complete device compromise and potential data exfiltration. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they can manipulate the device's core security features, including encryption keys, secure boot processes, and system integrity checks. The vulnerability affects MediaTek-based Android devices where the thermal driver is implemented, which includes numerous smartphone and tablet models from various manufacturers. The attack surface is particularly concerning because thermal management is a critical system function that runs continuously, providing persistent access to the kernel-level interface. 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 code and establish persistent access. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access to the device, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios where physical access is possible or where other vulnerabilities have already compromised the device's security posture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on both immediate patching and architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in the future. Device manufacturers must implement timely security updates that address the specific buffer overflow and privilege escalation issues within the MediaTek thermal driver. The patching process should include proper input validation, memory bounds checking, and access control mechanisms to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. System administrators and security teams should implement comprehensive monitoring for unusual kernel-level activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure driver development practices and proper code review processes for kernel-level components. Additionally, implementing runtime protection mechanisms such as kernel address space layout randomization kASLR and stack canaries can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can detect and prevent the installation of malicious applications that might attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining secure kernel-level drivers and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in system-level components.