CVE-2016-10464 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, MDM9640, MDM9650, QCA6174A, QCA6574AU, QCA9377, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 600, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, and SDX20, lack of input validation for HCI H4 UART packet ID cause system denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable chipsets affecting Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw resides in the Bluetooth subsystem where insufficient input validation occurs for HCI H4 UART packet identification. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices utilizing Snapdragon Mobile platforms including MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, QCA6174A, QCA6574AU, QCA9377, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 600, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, and SDX20 chipsets. The issue stems from the lack of proper validation of packet identifiers within the HCI H4 UART communication protocol implementation, creating a condition where malformed or unexpected packet IDs can be processed without adequate sanitization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability allows an attacker to send specially crafted Bluetooth packets that contain invalid HCI H4 UART packet IDs to the affected Snapdragon chipsets. When the system processes these malformed packets, the insufficient validation leads to system instability and ultimately results in a denial of service condition. This occurs because the Bluetooth subsystem does not properly handle unexpected packet identifiers, causing the system to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient input validation, which maps to CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and falls under the broader category of buffer overflows and memory corruption issues that can lead to system crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to mobile device security and availability. The denial of service condition affects the Bluetooth functionality of affected devices, potentially rendering them unusable for wireless communication until a reboot occurs. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a wide range of Snapdragon chipsets used across multiple Android device manufacturers, creating a substantial attack surface. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can affect device usability and potentially provide a vector for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1489, "Service Stop," as it causes system services to become unavailable through denial of service mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the relevant Android security patches released on or after April 5, 2018, which address the input validation issues in the Bluetooth subsystem. Device manufacturers should prioritize rolling out these patches to affected devices as quickly as possible. Additionally, network administrators should monitor for unusual Bluetooth traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in embedded systems and mobile chipsets, particularly in wireless communication protocols. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and monitoring to detect anomalous Bluetooth behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of mobile device firmware and chipset implementations are essential to identify similar validation gaps that could lead to similar denial of service conditions.