CVE-2016-10485 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm 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 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, and SDX20, lack of proper bounds checking may lead to a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile and wearable processors across multiple generations of Android devices. The issue stems from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms within the affected chipsets, specifically targeting the Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear platforms including IPQ4019, MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9625, MDM9635M, MDM9640, MDM9645, MDM9650, MDM9655, MSM8909W, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 410/12, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 617, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 810, and SDX20 processors. The vulnerability exists in the kernel-level components that handle memory operations and data processing within these mobile SoCs.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow occurs when malicious code attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries within the affected Qualcomm chipsets. This flaw allows attackers to potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, leading to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level, making a substantial portion of the Android ecosystem susceptible to this attack vector. The nature of the flaw suggests it operates at the hardware-software interface level where the operating system interacts with the Qualcomm baseband processors, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to mobile device security and user privacy. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw to gain root access to affected devices, enabling them to install malicious applications, extract sensitive data, or modify system configurations without user consent. The widespread adoption of these Qualcomm chipsets across various smartphone manufacturers means that the potential attack surface is extensive, affecting numerous device models from different vendors. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that it affects both mobile and wearable devices, expanding the attack surface to IoT and connected wearable technologies.
The security implications extend beyond simple exploitation to encompass broader system compromise and data breaches. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation in memory management operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique, specifically targeting the kernel-level execution environment where the buffer overflow occurs. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of the Android security patches released in April 2018, along with device firmware updates from manufacturers. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider device enrollment in security management platforms that can track and remediate vulnerable systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of coordinated security updates and the critical need for robust memory safety mechanisms in mobile processor architectures.