CVE-2016-10390 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, when downloading a file, an excessive amount of memory may be consumed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
This vulnerability resides in Qualcomm's Android implementations that utilize the Linux kernel, specifically affecting memory management during file download operations. The issue manifests when the system processes file downloads, leading to excessive memory consumption that can potentially cause system instability or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability impacts all Qualcomm products running Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum (CAF) that incorporate the Linux kernel, representing a widespread concern across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems. The flaw stems from inadequate memory allocation controls during the file download process, where the system fails to properly limit memory usage based on available resources or download requirements.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory allocation when processing file downloads through Qualcomm's Android framework. During download operations, the system allocates memory buffers without sufficient bounds checking or resource limiting mechanisms, allowing memory consumption to grow beyond reasonable limits. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of memory exhaustion issues that can be exploited to cause system resource depletion, potentially leading to application crashes or complete system hangs. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where memory resources are constrained and efficient resource management is critical for device performance and stability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple performance degradation to potentially enable more severe security consequences. When excessive memory consumption occurs during file downloads, it can lead to denial of service conditions where legitimate applications cannot access necessary system resources. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in environments where automated download processes or background applications continuously request memory resources, creating a cumulative effect that can destabilize the entire system. Attackers could potentially exploit this by initiating multiple simultaneous downloads or by crafting malicious download requests that trigger the excessive memory consumption pattern. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in resource-constrained environments such as mobile devices, IoT systems, and embedded platforms where memory management is critical for maintaining system responsiveness.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper memory allocation controls and resource limiting mechanisms within the download processing pipeline. System administrators and device manufacturers should ensure that file download operations implement strict memory usage limits and bounds checking to prevent uncontrolled memory growth. The implementation of memory monitoring and alerting systems can help detect abnormal memory consumption patterns before they lead to system instability. Additionally, regular firmware updates and security patches from Qualcomm should be applied to address the underlying memory management flaws in the Linux kernel implementation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which addresses allocation of resources without limits or with insufficient limits, and may be relevant to ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers resource exhaustion through memory consumption. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls to monitor and restrict download activities that could trigger the vulnerable code paths, particularly in enterprise environments where device management and security controls are paramount.