CVE-2016-2457 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
server/pm/UserManagerService.java in Wi-Fi in Android 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before 2016-05-01 allows attackers to bypass intended restrictions on Wi-Fi configuration changes by leveraging guest access, aka internal bug 27411179.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2457 represents a significant security flaw in the Android Wi-Fi subsystem that affects multiple versions of the operating system. This issue resides within the server/pm/UserManagerService.java component of the Android framework, specifically impacting the Wi-Fi configuration management functionality. The vulnerability allows unauthorized attackers to circumvent intended security restrictions that should prevent modification of Wi-Fi settings, particularly when guest access is enabled. The flaw was classified as an internal bug with identifier 27411179, indicating its discovery and tracking within Google's internal development systems before public disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and privilege validation within the Wi-Fi configuration service. When guest access is enabled on an Android device, the system should maintain strict restrictions on who can modify network settings to prevent unauthorized configuration changes. However, the flaw in UserManagerService.java fails to properly validate user permissions and authentication contexts, allowing attackers with guest access privileges to escalate their capabilities and make unauthorized modifications to Wi-Fi configurations. This represents a classic privilege escalation vulnerability where guest users can gain elevated access rights beyond their intended permissions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple configuration changes, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who gains guest access to a device can use this vulnerability to modify Wi-Fi settings to redirect traffic, disable security features, or establish unauthorized network connections. This capability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Wi-Fi configurations are tightly controlled and security policies are enforced. The vulnerability effectively undermines the device's network security posture by allowing unauthorized modification of critical network parameters that should remain protected from guest users. The impact is further amplified because Wi-Fi configuration changes can affect network connectivity, data transmission security, and overall device network access control.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Android security patches released in May 2016, which addressed this specific flaw. System administrators should also consider implementing additional network monitoring to detect unauthorized Wi-Fi configuration changes and enforce stricter access controls for guest networks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control issues, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation. Organizations should also review their mobile device management policies to ensure that guest access permissions are appropriately restricted and that network security controls are properly configured to prevent unauthorized changes to Wi-Fi settings. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper access control implementation in mobile operating systems and highlights the potential for guest access mechanisms to be exploited for privilege escalation attacks.