CVE-2016-10415 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 600, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, and SDX20, dereference of an invalid input parameter could cause a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical memory management flaw affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors across multiple device models. The issue stems from improper validation of input parameters within the kernel-level components of the Android operating system, specifically within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset architecture. When processing certain malformed input data, the system attempts to dereference invalid memory pointers, leading to system instability and potential denial of service conditions. This vulnerability affects devices shipped with Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, impacting a substantial portion of mobile devices utilizing these Snapdragon chipsets. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to disrupt normal device operations without requiring elevated privileges. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which describes null pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to system crashes. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on these devices, as it can be triggered through normal device usage scenarios including network communication, file processing, or application execution. The exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities. The affected chipsets span multiple generations of Qualcomm's mobile processor lineup, indicating a widespread impact across various device categories from entry-level to high-end smartphones and wearables. This vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern mobile security where issues in hardware-level components can affect entire software ecosystems. The flaw's presence in both mobile and wearable variants suggests that organizations must consider comprehensive patch management strategies across all device types. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be triggered through various attack vectors including network-based attacks or malicious applications. Organizations should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1499.004 indicates potential for service disruption attacks, while its relationship to CWE-476 highlights the fundamental nature of the memory management error. Device manufacturers and security teams must prioritize patch deployment to mitigate this risk across affected device populations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual devices to potentially affect enterprise mobility management systems that rely on these platforms. This represents a significant concern for organizations with large mobile device deployments, as the vulnerability can lead to widespread service disruptions and operational impacts. The lack of user privilege requirements makes this vulnerability particularly attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt services or create denial of service conditions. Security professionals should implement layered defenses including network monitoring, application control, and regular vulnerability assessments to address this and related memory corruption issues. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Snapdragon generations underscores the importance of comprehensive security testing and validation processes for mobile hardware platforms.