CVE-2016-2433 in BlackBerry
Summary
by MITRE
The Broadcom Wi-Fi driver for Android, as used by BlackBerry smartphones before Build AAE570, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the kernel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2433 represents a critical kernel-level privilege escalation flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver implementation on Android-based BlackBerry smartphones. This vulnerability affects devices running BlackBerry OS versions prior to Build AAE570, creating a significant security risk where remote attackers can exploit the flaw to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the Wi-Fi driver component that handles wireless communication protocols.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper handling of wireless frame processing within the Broadcom driver code. When the driver receives specially crafted wireless packets, it fails to properly validate the packet structure and memory allocation before processing the data. This memory corruption vulnerability allows attackers to manipulate the driver's execution flow and escalate privileges from user mode to kernel mode. The flaw specifically manifests during the processing of malformed Wi-Fi management frames, where buffer overflows or improper memory access patterns occur. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, as the driver does not adequately check buffer boundaries during frame processing operations. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no physical access to the device and can be exploited remotely over the air.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2433 extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of affected BlackBerry devices. Once an attacker gains kernel-level access, they can bypass all Android security mechanisms including SELinux policies, application sandboxing, and system integrity checks. This enables complete device compromise including data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, and full system control. The vulnerability affects the core wireless communication stack, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited during normal network operations without user interaction. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007: Command and Scripting Interpreter: Python and T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as attackers can leverage the kernel-level access to establish persistent access and execute malicious payloads. The attack surface includes all wireless communication activities, making it a particularly insidious threat vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2433 primarily focus on firmware updates and security patches from BlackBerry, as the vulnerability resides in proprietary driver code that cannot be independently patched by end users. Organizations should immediately implement the official firmware update AAE570 or later versions that contain the patched Broadcom driver components. Network administrators should also consider implementing wireless intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious wireless traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Device hardening measures including disabling unnecessary wireless services and implementing network segmentation can reduce the attack surface. Security monitoring should focus on kernel-level process execution and unusual network activity that may indicate successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of supply chain security and the need for thorough security testing of third-party components like Wi-Fi drivers, particularly in mobile device ecosystems where kernel-level access can lead to complete system compromise.