CVE-2016-2437 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The NVIDIA video driver in Android before 2016-05-01 on Nexus 9 devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 27436822.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2437 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the NVIDIA video driver component of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affected Nexus 9 devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-05-01 security update, creating a significant security risk that could be exploited by malicious applications. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the graphics driver subsystem, which is a fundamental component responsible for hardware acceleration and display rendering in mobile devices. Such flaws in graphics drivers are particularly dangerous because they operate at a low system level with elevated privileges, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to bypass Android's security model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the NVIDIA graphics driver processes certain input parameters or system calls from user applications. Attackers could craft malicious applications that exploit this weakness to elevate their privileges from standard user-level access to system-level privileges. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-264, which describes permissions, privileges, and access control issues, and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through driver-level weaknesses. The flaw allows unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges, potentially enabling attackers to access sensitive system resources, modify critical system files, or install malicious software with root-level permissions.
From an operational perspective, the impact of CVE-2016-2437 was substantial for affected Nexus 9 devices, as it created a persistent security weakness that could be exploited by any application with the ability to install or run malicious code. The vulnerability exploited the trust relationship between the Android application framework and the underlying graphics driver, allowing attackers to bypass normal security boundaries. This type of attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and demonstrates how graphics drivers can serve as attack surfaces for system compromise. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it affected devices that were considered secure and were often used in enterprise environments, making the potential impact far-reaching.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2016-2437 required users to apply the Android security update released on May 1, 2016, which patched the graphics driver vulnerability. Organizations needed to ensure all Nexus 9 devices were updated promptly, as the window of exposure was significant given the widespread use of these devices. System administrators should have implemented comprehensive patch management procedures to address this vulnerability across their device fleets. The fix involved updating the NVIDIA graphics driver component to properly validate input parameters and enforce appropriate privilege boundaries, effectively closing the exploit path that allowed attackers to escalate privileges. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of driver security in mobile platforms and the need for regular security updates to address low-level system components that operate with elevated privileges.