CVE-2016-10299 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Qualcomm closed source components. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-32577244.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10299 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's closed source components that affects the Android kernel. This issue resides in the proprietary Qualcomm driver code that interfaces with the Android operating system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the kernel-level components that handle hardware abstraction layer communications. Attackers can exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized administrative privileges, potentially enabling full system compromise and persistent access to sensitive device functionalities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the Qualcomm closed source kernel modules process specific system calls or device ioctls. When the Android kernel receives certain malformed inputs or executes specific sequences of operations through these proprietary components, it fails to properly validate the originating process permissions or enforce appropriate access boundaries. This allows an attacker with local execution capabilities to manipulate kernel data structures or bypass security checks that should normally prevent privilege escalation. The issue manifests as a failure in the kernel's security model where trusted Qualcomm components inadvertently create pathways for unprivileged code to execute privileged operations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to mobile device security and user privacy. The exploitation of CVE-2016-10299 could enable attackers to install malicious applications with system-level privileges, access encrypted storage, modify system files, or establish persistent backdoors. The closed source nature of the affected Qualcomm components complicates the identification and remediation process, as security researchers cannot directly analyze the vulnerable code to understand all potential attack vectors. This vulnerability specifically impacts devices running Android versions that utilize Qualcomm's proprietary kernel modules, making it particularly concerning for a large portion of the mobile ecosystem. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that many Android devices rely heavily on Qualcomm's hardware abstraction layer for various system functions.
The remediation of this vulnerability requires coordinated efforts between Qualcomm and Android device manufacturers to develop and deploy patches that address the specific privilege escalation mechanisms within the closed source components. Security updates must ensure proper input validation and access control enforcement in the kernel modules while maintaining compatibility with existing device functionality. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment and implement additional security measures such as runtime monitoring and behavioral analysis to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant concern for ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting legitimate credentials for privilege escalation. The complexity of addressing such issues in closed source components highlights the ongoing challenges in mobile security where proprietary vendor code can create hidden attack surfaces that are difficult to detect and remediate.