CVE-2016-10484 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Automobile, Snapdragon Mobile, and Snapdragon Wear IPQ4019, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, 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 820A, SD 835, and SDX20, if a RPMB listener is registered with a very small buffer size, the calculation of the maximum transfer size for read and write operations may underflow, resulting in buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon automotive and mobile platforms affecting Android versions prior to 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw resides in the RPMB (Replay Protection Memory Block) implementation where a malicious actor can register a listener with an intentionally small buffer size. When the system calculates the maximum transfer size for read and write operations, it performs arithmetic operations that can result in integer underflow. This underflow condition leads to a buffer overflow scenario where the system attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness in the hardware security module of these platforms, potentially allowing unauthorized access to sensitive system components and data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and arithmetic handling within the RPMB subsystem. When a listener registers with a minimal buffer size, the calculation logic fails to properly validate the resulting transfer size values, leading to negative or unexpectedly large values that cause buffer overflows. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-191 Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) categories, representing a classic security flaw where inadequate bounds checking enables memory corruption. The affected platforms include numerous Snapdragon chipsets commonly found in automotive infotainment systems, mobile devices, and wearables, making the attack surface particularly broad.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple buffer overflow conditions to potentially enable privilege escalation and persistent system compromise. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to secure elements within the system, potentially accessing encryption keys, authentication credentials, or other sensitive data stored in the RPMB. The vulnerability's presence in automotive platforms raises particular concern for vehicle security systems, where such exploits could potentially compromise vehicle control systems or personal data protection mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1547 - Boot or Logon Autostart Execution, as it could enable persistent access through compromised secure boot processes.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the latest security patches from Qualcomm and Android vendors, which address the buffer size calculation logic and implement proper integer overflow protection mechanisms. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security monitoring to detect anomalous buffer usage patterns and potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in security-critical hardware components and emphasizes the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in memory management systems. Organizations should also review their security configurations and ensure that RPMB access controls are properly enforced, particularly in automotive and mobile environments where these platforms are deployed.