CVE-2016-10387 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, an assertion was potentially reachable in a handover scenario.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10387 represents a critical assertion failure within Qualcomm's Android-based products that utilize the Linux kernel through the Code Aurora Forum. This issue manifests specifically during handover scenarios, which are critical operations in wireless communication where devices transition between different network cells or technologies. The assertion failure occurs in the kernel space of Qualcomm's implementation, indicating a fundamental flaw in how the system handles transitions between network states. Such handover operations are essential for maintaining continuous connectivity in mobile environments where devices frequently switch between base stations or network types. The vulnerability's presence in all Qualcomm products utilizing CAF's Linux kernel implementation suggests a widespread impact across multiple device manufacturers and hardware platforms. This assertion failure represents a potential denial-of-service condition where the system may become unstable or crash during legitimate network handover operations, disrupting user connectivity and potentially creating security implications.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2016-10387 stems from inadequate validation or handling of edge cases during network handover procedures within the Linux kernel implementation used by Qualcomm. Assertions are typically used as debugging mechanisms to catch programming errors or unexpected conditions during development, but when these assertions become reachable in production code, they indicate that the system has encountered a condition that was not properly anticipated or handled. The specific nature of the handover scenario suggests that this involves transitions between different radio access technologies or network domains where the kernel's state management logic fails to properly account for all possible transition paths. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-617, which addresses reachable assertions in software systems, and represents a classic example of how development-time debugging mechanisms can become operational runtime issues in production environments. The flaw likely exists in the kernel's network subsystem where handover logic interacts with various kernel modules responsible for managing wireless connections and resource allocation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the overall reliability and security posture of Qualcomm-based devices. During network handover operations, users may experience unexpected device reboots, connectivity loss, or complete system crashes that disrupt communication services. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because handover scenarios occur frequently in mobile environments where devices are constantly switching between different network cells or technologies. Attackers could potentially exploit this condition to force repeated handover operations, leading to sustained denial-of-service conditions that degrade user experience and potentially create opportunities for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's presence in all CAF-based Linux kernel implementations indicates that it affects a broad range of mobile devices including smartphones, tablets, and other IoT devices that rely on Qualcomm's wireless communication chipsets. This widespread impact makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect millions of devices simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10387 should focus on both immediate patching and operational hardening measures to protect against exploitation. Device manufacturers should prioritize applying the relevant kernel patches provided by Qualcomm and the Code Aurora Forum to address the assertion failure in handover scenarios. System administrators and security teams should monitor for unusual network handover patterns or system instability that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that defensive measures should include enhanced logging and monitoring of network transition events to detect potential abuse. Additionally, implementing network-level controls and ensuring that devices receive timely security updates can help reduce exposure. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to privilege escalation and denial-of-service techniques, as it allows an attacker to potentially disrupt system operations or force unauthorized access through network disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for similar assertion-related issues in kernel components to prevent future occurrences. The remediation process should also involve thorough testing of network handover functionality after patching to ensure that legitimate operations continue to function correctly while addressing the underlying assertion failure condition.