CVE-2016-2492 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The MediaTek power-management driver in Android before 2016-06-01 on Android One devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 28085410.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2492 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the MediaTek power-management driver component of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affected Android devices released before June 1, 2016, with particular impact on Android One devices that utilized MediaTek chipsets. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and access control mechanisms within the kernel-level driver responsible for managing power states and device power management functions. Attackers could exploit this weakness by installing a malicious application that leverages the vulnerable driver interface to elevate privileges from a regular application context to kernel-level privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of the power management driver's interface, which lacks proper validation of user-supplied data. When a crafted application interacts with the vulnerable driver, it can trigger a buffer overflow or arbitrary code execution within kernel space. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious code with the highest privileges available within the system, potentially allowing complete system compromise and persistent access to device resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2492 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with unrestricted access to the device's core system functions. Once exploited, the malicious application could modify system files, install additional malware, access sensitive user data, and potentially disable security features. This vulnerability particularly affected Android One devices due to their specific implementation of MediaTek power management components and the lack of proper privilege separation mechanisms. The attack vector requires only the installation of a malicious application, making it highly accessible to threat actors who could distribute such malware through various channels including third-party app stores or social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2492 primarily involve applying the relevant security patches released by Google and MediaTek, which address the improper privilege handling within the power management driver. Device users should immediately update their Android systems to versions released after June 1, 2016, which contain fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, and security teams should monitor for suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security controls and proper privilege separation as outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation category, where attackers can leverage kernel vulnerabilities to gain system-level access. Network administrators should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and monitor for potential exploitation attempts across enterprise device fleets.