CVE-2016-3795 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The MediaTek power driver in Android before 2016-07-05 on Android One devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28085222 and MediaTek internal bug ALPS02677244.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-3795 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the MediaTek power driver component of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affected Android devices released before July 5th, 2016, particularly those running Android One variants that utilized MediaTek chipsets. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege handling within the power management driver that governs hardware power states and device operations. Attackers could exploit this weakness through a specially crafted application that manipulates driver interfaces to elevate their privileges from standard application level to system-level access, bypassing normal Android security boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of kernel-level driver functions that control power management operations on MediaTek-based devices. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the power driver through improper ioctl (input/output control) calls or by manipulating memory regions accessible through driver interfaces, the system fails to properly validate these operations. This validation failure creates a path for privilege escalation where unprivileged code can execute kernel-level operations typically restricted to system components. The flaw specifically relates to how the driver handles certain power state transitions and device control commands, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying hardware control mechanisms. According to CWE-264, this vulnerability maps directly to permissions, privileges, and access controls issues where insufficient checks allow unauthorized access to privileged operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting kernel-level exploits that leverage driver vulnerabilities to gain elevated system privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected devices. Once successfully exploited, malicious actors could access all device data, install applications, modify system configurations, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security model of Android devices by undermining the isolation between user applications and system-level operations. This particular flaw was particularly concerning because it affected Android One devices which were designed to provide secure, up-to-date experiences but were left vulnerable due to the timing of the patch release. The vulnerability also demonstrates the risks associated with hardware-specific drivers in mobile operating systems, where chipset vendors may not receive timely security updates or where security testing of driver components is insufficient. Organizations and users with affected devices faced significant risk of data compromise, device takeover, and potential use in larger attack campaigns targeting mobile platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3795 required immediate system updates and patches from device manufacturers. The primary solution involved applying the Android security patch released on July 5th, 2016, which included fixes to the MediaTek power driver component. Device manufacturers needed to ensure their Android One devices received these updates promptly, as the vulnerability remained exploitable until patched. Users should have updated their devices immediately upon patch availability, as the window of exploitation was limited only by the time between vulnerability disclosure and patch deployment. Additional defensive measures included disabling unnecessary power management features, monitoring for suspicious application behavior, and implementing mobile device management policies that could prevent installation of untrusted applications. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of coordinated security updates between chipset vendors, operating system developers, and device manufacturers. From a security architecture perspective, this flaw underscored the need for better isolation of kernel drivers and more rigorous input validation in system-level components. Organizations should have reviewed their mobile security policies to ensure timely patch deployment and implemented monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through abnormal system behavior patterns.