CVE-2016-2473 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 27777501.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2473 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems. This security weakness specifically affects Nexus 7 (2013) devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-06-01 security update, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries could exploit to elevate their privileges from standard application level access to system-level control. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege handling within the wireless driver subsystem, which forms part of the broader Android security architecture that relies heavily on proper driver isolation and access control mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted malicious application that leverages specific weaknesses in how the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver processes certain inputs or manages memory operations. Attackers can manipulate the driver's behavior to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing the standard Android security model that normally restricts application access to system resources. This flaw operates at the kernel level within the driver component, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring user interaction or physical access to the device. The vulnerability manifests as a result of inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the driver code, allowing attackers to corrupt memory structures and manipulate the execution flow to achieve privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2473 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to gain full control over affected devices and potentially compromise the entire system. Once exploited, the malicious application can access sensitive system data, modify system configurations, install additional malware, and potentially exfiltrate user information. This vulnerability particularly affects users of Nexus 7 (2013) devices who were running outdated Android versions, creating a substantial risk for organizations and individuals who had not applied the relevant security patches. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no specialized hardware or complex exploitation techniques, making it accessible to threat actors with basic mobile security knowledge and potentially automated exploitation tools.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google and Qualcomm, which address the underlying driver implementation issues. System administrators and device users should immediately update their Nexus 7 (2013) devices to Android 6.0 or later versions that include the necessary fixes. Additionally, organizations should implement robust mobile device management policies that enforce regular security updates and monitor for devices running vulnerable Android versions. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited context, and represents a classic example of how driver-level flaws can be exploited to achieve system compromise. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be used as a foundational step for more sophisticated attacks, potentially enabling lateral movement and persistent access within compromised networks.