CVE-2016-2465 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm video driver in Android before 2016-06-01 on Nexus 5, 5X, 6, and 6P devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 27407865.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2465 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm video driver component of Android operating systems. This weakness specifically affected Nexus 5, 5X, 6, and 6P devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-06-01 security patch release. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the video driver's kernel space implementation, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious applications to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system-level access. The vulnerability was internally tracked as bug 27407865, indicating its classification as a serious security concern within Qualcomm's internal bug tracking systems.
The technical flaw manifests through improper handling of video decoding operations within the Qualcomm multimedia subsystem. When a crafted application attempts to process specially constructed media files or video streams, the driver fails to properly validate input parameters and memory boundaries. This validation failure enables attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures through buffer overflow conditions or use-after-free vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, bypassing standard Android security mechanisms that typically prevent user applications from accessing privileged system resources. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, effectively gaining complete control over the device's operating system and all its data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with comprehensive access to device functionality and sensitive data. Once exploited, malicious applications can access encrypted storage, read and modify system files, install additional malware, and potentially access the device's communication capabilities including cellular data, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth connections. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require physical device access or special user permissions, making it particularly dangerous as any application installed on the device could potentially exploit this flaw. This creates a significant risk for users who may unknowingly install malicious applications from untrusted sources, as the exploitation occurs entirely within the application's execution context without requiring user interaction beyond installation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2465 primarily focus on applying the official security patches released by Google and Qualcomm in their respective Android security bulletins. The recommended solution involves updating affected Nexus devices to Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later versions that include the patched Qualcomm video driver components. Organizations and individuals should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, as well as maintain regular security updates for all mobile devices. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 Improper Access to Memory Location and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, both of which are classified as high-risk software weaknesses in the Common Weakness Enumeration database. The attack pattern corresponds to T1068 Privilege Escalation in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, where adversaries leverage system vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges. Security professionals should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can monitor for suspicious application behavior and provide additional layers of protection against such kernel-level exploits.