CVE-2016-3745 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in mediaserver in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before 2016-07-01 allow attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application that provides an AudioEffect reply, as demonstrated by obtaining Signature or SignatureOrSystem access, aka internal bug 28173666.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3745 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the mediaserver component of Android operating systems. This issue affects multiple Android versions including 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before the 2016-07-01 security patch. The mediaserver process serves as a critical system component responsible for handling multimedia operations and audio processing, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the mediaserver processes crafted AudioEffect replies from malicious applications, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the mediaserver's handling of AudioEffect responses. When a malicious application sends a specially crafted AudioEffect reply, the mediaserver fails to properly bounds-check the incoming data, leading to a buffer overflow condition. This overflow allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting the program's execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The flaw falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires only a crafted application to be installed on the device, making it accessible through standard app distribution channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can grant attackers Signature or SignatureOrSystem access levels. This elevated privilege access enables malicious actors to perform actions that would normally require system-level permissions, including installing applications with system-level privileges, modifying system files, and accessing sensitive data. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework places it in the Privilege Escalation category, specifically targeting the 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' tactic. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, exfiltrate device data, or deploy additional malware, making it a significant threat to Android device security and user privacy.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3745 primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches released by Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the Android security updates corresponding to the affected versions, particularly the 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, and 2016-07-01 patch releases. System administrators should implement strict application vetting processes to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect unusual patterns in audio processing requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in system-level components and demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates in mobile operating systems. Device manufacturers should consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory corruption detection mechanisms to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities.