CVE-2016-1495 in Mate S
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the graphics drivers in Huawei Mate S smartphones with software CRR-TL00 before CRR-TL00C01B160SP01, CRR-UL00 before CRR-UL00C00B160, and CRR-CL00 before CRR-CL00C92B161 allows attackers to cause a denial of service (system crash) or gain privileges via a crafted application, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/24/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1495 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the graphics driver components of Huawei Mate S smartphones. This vulnerability affects specific software versions including CRR-TL00 before CRR-TL00C01B160SP01, CRR-UL00 before CRR-UL00C00B160, and CRR-CL00 before CRR-CL00C92B161, creating a significant security risk for affected devices. The flaw manifests in the graphics driver subsystem where improper integer handling leads to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited by malicious applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow condition that occurs within the graphics processing unit driver code. When a crafted application executes, it manipulates input parameters that are processed by the graphics driver, causing integer overflow during memory allocation calculations. This overflow results in a heap-based buffer overflow scenario where the system attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. The underlying cause can be classified as a CWE-190 integer overflow vulnerability, which is a well-documented weakness in software systems where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the data type.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable privilege escalation attacks. Attackers can exploit this flaw to cause system crashes and instability, effectively rendering the device unusable through denial of service attacks. More critically, the heap-based buffer overflow condition creates opportunities for privilege escalation, allowing malicious applications to gain elevated system privileges that would normally be restricted. This represents a significant compromise of the device's security model and can lead to complete system compromise.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1499 for network denial of service. The exploitation requires a malicious application to be installed on the device, which can be delivered through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns or compromised app stores. The vulnerability affects the core graphics processing functionality and can be triggered through normal user interaction with applications that utilize graphics rendering capabilities. The integer overflow occurs in the driver layer, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at a low system level with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1495 require immediate firmware updates from Huawei to address the integer overflow conditions in the graphics drivers. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest software versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious application installations and maintain strict application vetting processes. System administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and monitoring for unusual graphics driver behavior. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in driver code, particularly in mobile operating systems where graphics processing is heavily utilized. Organizations should also implement regular security assessments of mobile device firmware to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components.