CVE-2016-10424 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9650, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, and SD 850, upgrading LibPNG from 1.6.12 to 1.6.21 fixes multiple issues with different CWEs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2016-10424 represents a critical security flaw affecting Android devices equipped with Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, specifically those released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This issue manifests within the LibPNG library component, which serves as a fundamental image processing library for handling portable network graphics file formats across mobile platforms. The affected hardware includes a broad range of Snapdragon automotive, mobile, and wearable chipsets such as the MDM9206, MDM9650, SD 210/212/205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 820, SD 820A, SD 835, SD 845, and SD 850 series processors. The vulnerability stems from the outdated LibPNG version 1.6.12 which contained multiple security weaknesses that were subsequently addressed through the upgrade to version 1.6.21.
The technical flaw involves several underlying issues that fall under different CWE categories, representing a comprehensive security regression in the image processing pipeline. These vulnerabilities primarily stem from improper input validation and memory handling within the PNG parsing routines, creating potential attack vectors for remote code execution and privilege escalation. The specific CWE classifications typically encompass issues such as buffer overflows, integer overflows, and memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be exploited through malformed image files. The vulnerability affects the core image processing functionality of Android devices, particularly when handling PNG files in various applications including web browsers, image viewers, and email clients. Attackers could potentially craft malicious PNG files that trigger these memory corruption issues when processed by the vulnerable LibPNG library, leading to arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack surfaces within the Android ecosystem, particularly affecting automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and wearable technology that rely on Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. The exploitation of these vulnerabilities could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to device functionalities, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Mobile threat actors could leverage these weaknesses to install malicious applications, access sensitive user data, or establish persistent backdoors on affected devices. The automotive implications are particularly concerning given the increasing integration of smartphone connectivity and infotainment systems in modern vehicles, where such vulnerabilities could potentially be exploited to compromise vehicle security systems. Additionally, the widespread deployment of affected chipsets across different device categories means that the attack surface is extensive, affecting millions of devices globally.
The remediation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate implementation of the security patch that upgrades LibPNG from version 1.6.12 to 1.6.21, which addresses multiple CWE-related issues including buffer overflows and memory corruption vulnerabilities. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Android devices to the latest security patch level, particularly those deployed in enterprise environments or critical infrastructure. Device manufacturers and carriers should ensure that the updated firmware includes proper verification mechanisms to validate the integrity of the patched components. Security teams should monitor for any potential exploitation attempts targeting these vulnerabilities through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems. The fix aligns with industry best practices for managing third-party library vulnerabilities and follows established security frameworks such as those outlined in the CWE dictionary and MITRE ATT&CK framework, which categorize such issues under code injection and privilege escalation attack patterns. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other third-party components within the Android ecosystem.