CVE-2016-10392 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a driver can potentially leak kernel memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/08/2019
This vulnerability exists within Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets that utilize Android operating systems through the Linux kernel framework. The issue stems from a kernel driver that fails to properly sanitize memory allocations before exposing them to user-space applications. The flaw allows for potential information disclosure where kernel memory contents could be accessed through improper memory handling within the driver implementation. This vulnerability affects all Qualcomm products that incorporate Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum using the Linux kernel, creating a widespread impact across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems.
The technical root cause of CVE-2016-10392 lies in improper memory management within kernel drivers that handle device operations. When the driver processes certain input data or performs memory allocations, it does not adequately clear or validate memory regions before making them accessible to user-space applications. This creates a potential information leak where sensitive kernel data, including cryptographic keys, credentials, or other confidential information stored in memory, could be inadvertently exposed. The vulnerability manifests through improper memory handling that violates standard kernel security practices and can be exploited through crafted input sequences that trigger the vulnerable driver code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for mobile device security and system integrity. Attackers could potentially leverage this memory leak to extract sensitive kernel information that might aid in further exploitation attempts or to understand the underlying system architecture. This information disclosure could enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation, bypassing of security mechanisms, or development of targeted exploits against other system components. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Qualcomm-based devices, potentially compromising user data and system confidentiality across all affected platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-10392 should focus on both immediate patches and long-term architectural improvements. Qualcomm released security updates that address the memory handling issues within the affected kernel drivers, requiring device manufacturers to implement these patches through regular software updates. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected devices and monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper memory sanitization practices and input validation within driver code can prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future implementations. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-248, which addresses improper exception handling, and may be related to ATT&CK technique T1005 for data from local system, emphasizing the need for comprehensive memory management practices in kernel-level code development.