CVE-2016-10440 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, and SD 650/52, there is improper access control to a bus.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability resides in the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform components affecting Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue manifests as improper access control to a bus interface within the hardware security architecture, specifically impacting Snapdragon models including SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, and SD 650/52 processors. The vulnerability stems from insufficient protection mechanisms that govern access to critical hardware buses, which serve as communication pathways between various system components including the application processor, modem, and peripheral devices. This flaw represents a fundamental breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where unauthorized entities can potentially access or manipulate data flowing through these buses without proper authentication or authorization checks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues, specifically addressing inadequate access control mechanisms within hardware security domains.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of bus access permissions and potentially allows attackers to intercept, modify, or inject data on the affected buses. This could enable privilege escalation attacks where malicious actors gain elevated system privileges or access sensitive information that should be protected by hardware-level security boundaries. The bus access control failure creates potential attack vectors for lateral movement within the system, as attackers could potentially access memory regions, communication channels, or control interfaces that should remain isolated. This issue represents a hardware-level security weakness that bypasses traditional software-based access controls and directly impacts the foundational security architecture of the mobile platform. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or manipulate system processes through bus-level access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially enabling complete system compromise through hardware-level attacks. Devices affected by this vulnerability could be exploited to gain root access, modify system firmware, or extract sensitive cryptographic keys stored in hardware security modules. The widespread nature of the affected Snapdragon models means that numerous Android devices across different manufacturers and device categories could be vulnerable, creating a significant attack surface. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile platforms where hardware security is critical for protecting user data and maintaining system integrity, especially in enterprise environments where device security is paramount. The issue demonstrates the critical importance of hardware security in mobile platforms and highlights how vulnerabilities in low-level system components can undermine the entire security posture of a device. Organizations should consider implementing additional security measures such as secure boot verification, hardware-based encryption, and regular security patch management to mitigate the risk associated with this class of vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also emphasizes the need for comprehensive security testing at the hardware level, including bus access control validation and privilege boundary enforcement mechanisms.
This vulnerability type falls under the category of hardware security flaws that affect the fundamental trust model of mobile platforms. The improper access control to buses represents a failure in the hardware security architecture that should enforce strict isolation between different system components. The security implications extend to data confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as attackers could potentially disrupt normal system operations or access sensitive information. The vulnerability requires hardware-level patches or device replacement to fully remediate, as software workarounds are insufficient to address the root cause. This highlights the critical relationship between hardware security and overall system security, where weaknesses in foundational components can compromise even well-protected software layers. The affected devices represent a significant portion of the mobile market, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a cybersecurity perspective. Security professionals should monitor for device-specific patches from manufacturers and consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting these hardware-level vulnerabilities.