CVE-2016-2471 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver in Android before 2016-06-01 on Nexus 7 (2013) devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 27773913.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2471 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affected Nexus 7 (2013) devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-06-01 security patch release, creating a significant security risk for users of these devices. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the Wi-Fi driver's kernel space components, allowing malicious applications to exploit kernel-level vulnerabilities and elevate their privileges to system-level access. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which deals with stack-based buffer overflow conditions, though the specific implementation involves privilege escalation through driver manipulation rather than traditional buffer overflow techniques.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a crafted malicious application is executed on the affected device, leveraging the insecure Wi-Fi driver implementation to gain unauthorized access to system resources. Attackers can manipulate the driver's handling of specific Wi-Fi-related data structures, potentially causing memory corruption that allows them to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides attackers with complete control over the device's Wi-Fi functionality and underlying system operations. This aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the T1068 technique of 'Signed Binary Proxy Execution' and related methods for gaining system-level access through legitimate system components. The exploitation chain typically involves loading a malicious application that triggers the vulnerable driver code path, which then allows the attacker to bypass Android's security model and execute code with kernel-level privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2471 is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to completely compromise affected devices without requiring physical access or advanced technical skills. Once exploited, the malicious application can access all device data, install additional malware, modify system configurations, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security architecture of the Android operating system by undermining the isolation between user-space applications and kernel-space drivers, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass multiple security layers including SELinux policies and Android's application sandboxing mechanisms. Users of Nexus 7 (2013) devices were particularly vulnerable as these devices had a large installed base and were widely used in enterprise and consumer environments, making the potential impact of this vulnerability significant for organizations relying on these devices. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Android versions demonstrates the challenges of maintaining secure driver implementations in mobile operating systems, where kernel-level components must maintain compatibility while ensuring robust security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2471 primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google in their June 2016 security update, which specifically addressed the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver vulnerability. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected Nexus 7 (2013) devices receive the necessary updates, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious applications. Additionally, security administrators should consider implementing network-based monitoring to detect suspicious Wi-Fi traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device administrators should also enforce strict application installation policies, limiting the ability of users to install untrusted applications that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of driver security in mobile platforms and reinforces the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel-level components. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions to monitor for and remediate vulnerable devices within their environment, as the vulnerability affects a specific hardware platform and software combination that may require targeted remediation approaches.