CVE-2016-10438 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Small Cell SoC, Snapdragon Mobile, and Snapdragon Wear FSM9055, IPQ4019, IPQ8064, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, QCA4531, QCA9980, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, and SDX20, information exposure vulnerability when logging debug statement due to %p usage.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical information exposure flaw affecting numerous Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets and Small Cell SoC devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue stems from improper handling of debug logging statements that utilize the %p format specifier, which is designed to output pointer addresses in a hexadecimal format. When debug logging is enabled in production environments or when logs are not properly sanitized, this format specifier can inadvertently expose sensitive memory addresses and system information to unauthorized parties. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a wide range of mobile and IoT devices including smartphones, wearables, and enterprise networking equipment, making it a widespread concern across multiple device categories and use cases.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the Android logging framework where debug statements containing %p format specifiers are processed without proper sanitization of sensitive information. The %p format specifier in C programming languages outputs memory addresses in a hexadecimal format, and when these addresses are logged in debug mode, they can reveal information about the system's memory layout, kernel addresses, or other sensitive data structures. This information exposure can be exploited by malicious actors to gain insights into the system architecture, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as heap spraying, kernel exploitation, or bypassing security mitigations like ASLR. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-209, Information Exposure Through an Error Message, and can also be categorized under CWE-312, Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information, when considering the exposure of memory addresses in logs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack vectors and threat scenarios. Attackers can leverage the leaked memory addresses to perform advanced exploitation techniques such as return-oriented programming attacks, or to craft more targeted attacks against specific memory regions. The exposure of kernel addresses particularly undermines security mitigations like kernel address space layout randomization, which relies on the unpredictability of memory layouts. This vulnerability affects not just individual devices but entire device fleets, making it a significant concern for enterprise deployments where multiple devices with similar chipsets are in use. The vulnerability can also be exploited in combination with other weaknesses to enable privilege escalation attacks, as the leaked addresses provide crucial information for bypassing memory protection mechanisms and executing malicious code in kernel space.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patch deployment and logging configuration hardening. Organizations must ensure all affected devices receive the applicable security patches released by Qualcomm and Android vendors, with particular attention to the 2018-04-05 security update. System administrators should implement strict logging policies that prevent debug statements containing format specifiers from being enabled in production environments, and should sanitize all log outputs to remove any sensitive address information. The implementation of proper log management systems with access controls and monitoring capabilities can help detect unauthorized access to sensitive logs. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts based on the leaked memory addresses. Organizations should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any devices still running affected firmware versions and establish processes for continuous monitoring and patch management to prevent similar issues in the future. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in logging functions and highlights the need for regular security audits of system components that handle sensitive information exposure risks.