CVE-2016-10434 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile and Snapdragon Mobile SD 820 and SD 820A, the input to RPMB write response function is a buffer from HLOS that needs to be authenticated (using HMAC) and then processed. However, some of the processing occurs before the buffer is authenticated. The function will return various types of errors depending on the values of the `response` and `result` fields of the buffer before verifying the HMAC tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw resides in the RPMB (Replay Protected Memory Block) write response function implementation within the Host Linux Operating System (HLOS) environment. The RPMB is a secure storage mechanism designed to protect critical system data through cryptographic authentication and integrity verification. The vulnerability stems from a flawed order of operations where the system processes certain buffer fields before performing the required HMAC (Hash-based Message Authentication Code) verification, creating a timing window for exploitation.
The technical flaw manifests when the RPMB write response function examines the `response` and `result` fields of the buffer before authenticating the HMAC tag that should validate the buffer's integrity. This premature processing allows an attacker to manipulate these fields and trigger different error return codes based on their values, potentially leaking information about the internal state or bypassing authentication mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under CWE-295 which deals with improper certificate validation, and CWE-310 which addresses cryptographic issues. The insecure implementation violates the principle of input validation and authentication, where cryptographic verification should always precede any processing of potentially malicious data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for automotive and mobile devices using affected Qualcomm chipsets. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to secure storage areas, manipulate system configuration data, or extract sensitive information from the RPMB. This could lead to system compromise, data theft, or unauthorized modification of critical automotive systems in vehicle infotainment and telematics platforms. The vulnerability represents a classic example of a timing attack vector where the system's error handling reveals information about the authentication process, making it particularly dangerous in automotive environments where security is paramount. The issue affects Snapdragon 820 and 820A chipsets, which were widely deployed in various automotive and mobile devices, amplifying the potential attack surface.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation order where HMAC authentication occurs before any buffer field processing. System administrators should apply the latest security patches from Qualcomm and Android to address this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring for unusual error patterns in RPMB operations and consider additional cryptographic protections for sensitive data storage. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices and adheres to ATT&CK technique T1547.001 which covers registry run keys and startup folder persistence, as the compromised system could potentially establish persistent backdoors through manipulated secure storage mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing hardware security modules or additional cryptographic verification layers to protect against similar timing-based attacks in the future.