CVE-2016-10341 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, 3rd party TEEs have more privilege than intended.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10341 represents a critical privilege escalation issue within Android devices that utilize the Linux kernel and third-party Trusted Execution Environments. This flaw affects all Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum (CAF) and exposes a fundamental weakness in the security architecture that governs how trusted execution environments interact with the main operating system. The issue stems from improper privilege management where third-party TEE implementations exceed their intended security boundaries, creating potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of privilege separation mechanisms between the main Android operating system and the Trusted Execution Environment components. When third-party TEE solutions are integrated into Android devices, the kernel fails to enforce strict privilege boundaries that should normally isolate the TEE from the main OS. This allows the TEE to operate with elevated privileges that exceed what is typically permitted, effectively creating a security loophole that can be leveraged to bypass intended security controls. The flaw specifically impacts the Linux kernel's security model and how it manages memory protection, process isolation, and privilege levels between different execution contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-10341 is significant and far-reaching across the Android ecosystem, particularly affecting devices that rely on third-party TEE implementations for secure processing capabilities. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, execute arbitrary code within the TEE environment, or escalate their privileges to gain root access on the device. This weakness undermines the fundamental security assumptions of the Trusted Execution Environment, which is designed to provide a secure sandbox for sensitive operations such as fingerprint authentication, secure key storage, and cryptocurrency wallet functionality. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of data processed within these secure environments, making it a critical concern for device manufacturers and end users alike.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require comprehensive approaches that address both the immediate security gap and the underlying architectural issues. Device manufacturers should implement strict privilege enforcement mechanisms within the Linux kernel to ensure proper isolation between the main OS and TEE components. This includes updating kernel configurations to enforce stricter security policies and ensuring that third-party TEE implementations undergo rigorous security auditing before integration. The mitigation process should also involve implementing proper access control lists and privilege separation mechanisms that align with established security frameworks such as those defined in the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE) catalog, specifically CWE-276 which addresses improper privileges. Additionally, security patches should be applied promptly to address the kernel-level issues, and device manufacturers should consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also review their security policies and update their incident response procedures to account for the potential impact of this vulnerability, ensuring that they can quickly identify and respond to any exploitation attempts that might occur within their environments.