CVE-2016-10451 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, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, 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 800, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, and SDX20, privilege escalation may occur due to inherently insecure treatment of local files.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms and associated Android devices. The issue stems from insecure handling of local files within the Android operating system's security framework, specifically impacting devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm chipsets including the MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9650, MSM8909W, and numerous SD series processors spanning from entry-level to high-end devices. The flaw allows attackers with local access to potentially elevate their privileges from standard user level to system-level access, bypassing critical security boundaries that normally protect sensitive system resources and data.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper validation and handling of local file operations within the Android security model. When applications or processes attempt to interact with local files, the system should enforce strict access controls and privilege boundaries. However, in affected Qualcomm implementations, these security checks were insufficiently enforced, creating opportunities for malicious code to manipulate file access permissions or exploit file handling routines to gain elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue under CWE-269, which specifically addresses inadequate privilege management in software systems. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to bypass normal access controls and execute code with the highest available privileges, potentially compromising the entire device.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching across the mobile security landscape. Devices affected by this privilege escalation flaw could be compromised through various attack vectors including malicious applications, compromised websites, or physical access scenarios. Once an attacker achieves system-level privileges, they can access all device data including sensitive personal information, credentials, and encrypted storage. The vulnerability affects a substantial portion of the Android mobile ecosystem, particularly devices manufactured between 2014 and 2017, when these Qualcomm chipsets were widely deployed in smartphones and wearables. This makes the attack surface particularly large as millions of devices worldwide remain potentially vulnerable. The impact extends beyond individual privacy concerns to include corporate security risks, as compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader network attacks or data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the relevant security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. Users should ensure their devices receive the 2018-04-05 security update or later, which addresses the insecure file handling mechanisms. Device manufacturers must also implement proper security validation procedures for file operations and ensure that privilege boundaries are properly enforced. From a defensive perspective, system administrators should monitor device patch compliance and consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and automatically apply updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and privilege management in mobile operating systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers privilege escalation through local exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based monitoring to detect suspicious file access patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability.