CVE-2016-10483 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 808, and SD 810, improper input validation while processing SCM Command can lead to unauthorized memory access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability exists within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipset family affecting Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw resides in the Secure Command Module (SCM) processing mechanism where insufficient input validation occurs during command handling operations. The vulnerability specifically impacts Snapdragon models including SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 808, and SD 810 chipsets, which were widely deployed in numerous Android smartphones and tablets during their respective release cycles. The improper input validation allows malicious actors to craft specially formatted SCM commands that bypass normal security checks and access memory regions that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This represents a critical weakness in the hardware-based security architecture that forms the foundation of device-level protection mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of SCM command processing pathways within the Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC. When the system receives an SCM command without proper validation, it fails to verify the integrity and legitimacy of the input parameters before executing memory access operations. This creates a potential for privilege escalation and unauthorized data extraction from protected memory segments. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-20 category of "Improper Input Validation" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." The flaw essentially allows attackers to bypass the normal access control mechanisms that should prevent unauthorized memory reads or writes, potentially enabling the extraction of sensitive cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other protected data stored in memory.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory access violations as it represents a fundamental weakness in the hardware security model of these devices. Attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges on affected devices, access secure enclaves, or extract sensitive information from memory spaces that should remain isolated from normal application execution. The widespread deployment of these Snapdragon chipsets across various Android device manufacturers means that a large number of devices could be vulnerable to this specific weakness. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could be exploited by malware or sophisticated attackers who have access to the necessary knowledge of the SCM command structure and memory mapping. This weakness particularly impacts the integrity of device security features that depend on hardware-level isolation and protection mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of the security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers. The primary solution involves updating the affected Snapdragon chipsets with firmware updates that correct the input validation mechanisms within the SCM command processing. Organizations and users should prioritize applying the 2018-04-05 security patch level or later versions that address this specific vulnerability. Additionally, device manufacturers should implement enhanced monitoring of SCM command processing and establish more robust input validation routines that can detect and reject malformed commands before they are processed. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates the critical nature of hardware-level security validation mechanisms. Regular security audits of device firmware and hardware interfaces should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses that could be exploited by threat actors. The remediation process should also include verification that the patched firmware correctly implements proper input validation and that no regressions have occurred in legitimate device functionality.