CVE-2016-10461 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9650, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, and SDX20, lack of proper bounds checking may lead to a buffer overread.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability affects Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile processors including the MDM9650, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, and SDX20 chipsets. The issue stems from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms within the affected hardware components, creating a condition where malicious actors can exploit buffer overread scenarios. The vulnerability exists in the Android operating system versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, indicating a significant window of exposure for devices utilizing these processors. This type of flaw represents a critical security weakness that can potentially allow attackers to access memory regions beyond intended buffer boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory management within the Qualcomm Snapdragon chipset's firmware or system components. When the processor encounters certain data processing operations, it fails to validate buffer limits before accessing memory locations. This oversight can result in reading data from memory addresses that extend beyond the allocated buffer space, potentially exposing sensitive information or system internals. The buffer overread condition typically occurs during data handling operations where input validation is insufficient, allowing for arbitrary memory access patterns that could reveal confidential data or system state information.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to mobile device security and user privacy. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness to extract sensitive information from device memory, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or application data. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially enable broader exploitation chains, as the vulnerability affects multiple generations of Snapdragon processors. Devices running affected Android versions remain vulnerable until proper security patches are applied, making this a persistent threat in environments where patch management is delayed or incomplete.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length of input buffers, and represents a classic example of insufficient bounds checking in memory management operations. From an adversary perspective, this flaw fits within the ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may leverage such vulnerabilities to gain initial access or escalate privileges. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment for affected devices and consider implementing additional network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation approach requires updating to the appropriate Android security patch levels and ensuring that all devices utilizing affected Snapdragon processors receive timely security updates to prevent exploitation.