CVE-2016-2504 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm GPU driver in Android before 2016-08-05 on Nexus 5, 5X, 6, 6P, and 7 (2013) devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28026365 and Qualcomm internal bug CR1002974.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2504 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm GPU driver component of Android operating systems. This security weakness affects a range of Nexus devices including the Nexus 5, 5X, 6, 6P, and 2013 Nexus 7 models, specifically impacting Android versions released before August 5, 2016. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the GPU driver's kernel space components, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious applications to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system-level access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the Qualcomm GPU driver handles certain ioctl (input/output control) commands and memory operations. When a crafted application submits malformed or specially constructed GPU commands, the driver fails to properly validate the input parameters, leading to a buffer overflow or memory corruption condition. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical kernel memory structures or execute arbitrary code within the kernel context. The vulnerability specifically targets the GPU driver's handling of graphics command buffers and memory mapping operations, which are essential components for rendering graphics in mobile devices. According to CWE classification, this represents a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow, while the ATT&CK framework categorizes this as privilege escalation through kernel exploits under the T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation technique.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables attackers to bypass the Android security model entirely. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application can gain complete system-level control, allowing unauthorized access to all device data, including sensitive user information, stored credentials, and encrypted communications. The vulnerability affects devices that were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments, making it particularly dangerous as it could be exploited through seemingly benign applications downloaded from legitimate app stores. The exploitation requires no special user interaction beyond installing the malicious application, making it particularly insidious. The affected devices represent a significant portion of the Android ecosystem from 2013-2016, including devices that were considered flagship models at the time of their release.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of the Android Security Bulletin for August 2016. Organizations should immediately deploy the updated Qualcomm GPU drivers and corresponding Android system updates to all affected devices. Device administrators should implement strict application vetting processes and avoid installing applications from untrusted sources. Additionally, network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous GPU driver activity. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of supply chain security and the need for comprehensive testing of third-party drivers and components. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their mobile device management systems to ensure all components are properly updated and that device firmware remains current with security patches. The remediation process should include verification that the patched GPU driver components are properly installed and functioning correctly, as incomplete patch deployment can leave devices vulnerable to continued exploitation attempts.