CVE-2016-10294 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm power driver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-33621829. References: QC-CR#1105481.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10294 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm power driver component of Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18. This issue resides in the kernel-level power management subsystem that controls hardware power states and device operations, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized data access. The vulnerability specifically affects the interaction between the Qualcomm power driver and the Android operating system's permission model, where a local malicious application could exploit a flaw in the driver's access controls to obtain sensitive information beyond its normal operational boundaries. The classification as Moderate severity reflects the requirement for an initial compromise of a privileged process, indicating that while the vulnerability itself is not trivial to exploit, it presents a meaningful risk when combined with other attack vectors. The Android ID A-33621829 and reference QC-CR#1105481 provide specific tracking identifiers that help developers and security researchers correlate this issue with other related vulnerabilities and patches within the Qualcomm and Android ecosystems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the Qualcomm power driver implementation. When applications interact with power management functions through the kernel interface, the driver fails to properly validate or enforce permission boundaries that should restrict access to sensitive power state information and hardware registers. This flaw allows a malicious application with local execution privileges to potentially read or manipulate data structures that should only be accessible to system-level processes or privileged drivers. The vulnerability manifests through kernel-level system calls or device file operations that interface with the power management subsystem, where insufficient input validation or improper privilege checking enables unauthorized data access. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically involving improper access control in kernel space components that handle hardware abstraction layers. The flaw essentially creates a privilege escalation path within the kernel's power management framework where local applications can bypass normal security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable attackers to gather sensitive system information that may aid in further exploitation attempts. A malicious application could potentially access power management data that reveals hardware configurations, power state transitions, thermal management information, or other sensitive operational parameters that could be used to refine subsequent attacks or understand the target device's security posture. This information could be particularly valuable for attackers seeking to bypass other security mechanisms or to craft more sophisticated attacks targeting specific hardware configurations. The vulnerability's local nature means it requires initial compromise of a legitimate application or user account, but once exploited, it can provide persistent access to sensitive kernel-level data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and information gathering, specifically targeting the kernel-level access control mechanisms that protect system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10294 focus primarily on patching the Qualcomm power driver component and updating the affected kernel versions to address the improper access control implementation. Android device manufacturers should prioritize deploying kernel updates that correct the privilege validation mechanisms within the power driver, ensuring that proper access controls are enforced for all power management operations. System administrators and security teams should implement monitoring for unusual power management access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, as well as maintain updated vulnerability databases to track related issues in the Qualcomm power management subsystem. The recommended approach involves applying security patches that strengthen the kernel's permission checking mechanisms for power driver interfaces, implementing additional input validation for all kernel-level power management calls, and ensuring that privilege boundaries are properly enforced between user-space applications and kernel-space power management components. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing and runtime monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, as well as maintaining comprehensive system logging for power management operations that could indicate unauthorized access attempts.