CVE-2016-10495 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before 2018-04-05 or earlier security patch level on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9635M, made changes to map the scan type value to an index value that is in range.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/27/2020
This vulnerability affects Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile MDM9635M chipsets running Android versions prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The issue resides in how the system handles scan type value mapping to index values during wireless network scanning operations. The flaw stems from improper validation and range checking mechanisms that allow for incorrect mapping between scan type identifiers and their corresponding index positions within the wireless scanning framework. This represents a classic buffer manipulation vulnerability where the system fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them into internal data structures.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows for potential privilege escalation or denial of service conditions when malicious scan type values are processed through the wireless subsystem. The mapping function that converts scan type values to index positions does not properly validate whether the converted index falls within acceptable bounds, potentially leading to out-of-bounds memory access or incorrect data handling. This type of vulnerability commonly falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write categories, as it involves improper validation of input data leading to memory corruption scenarios. The vulnerability can be exploited through crafted network scan operations that manipulate the scan type values to trigger the flawed mapping logic.
Operationally, this vulnerability impacts mobile devices that rely on the Snapdragon MDM9635M chipset for wireless connectivity functions, particularly those running outdated Android versions. Attackers could potentially leverage this weakness to disrupt wireless services, gain unauthorized access to network scanning functionalities, or cause system instability through controlled memory corruption. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where mobile devices handle sensitive communications and network access controls. According to ATT&CK framework, this could map to T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation techniques, as it enables manipulation of system-level wireless functions.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of the Android security patches released on or after April 5, 2018, which address the specific index validation issues in the wireless scanning subsystem. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect anomalous wireless scanning behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers and carriers should ensure comprehensive testing of wireless functionality after patch deployment to verify that the mapping logic properly validates scan type values. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar validation weaknesses in other system components.