CVE-2016-3799 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The MediaTek video driver in Android before 2016-07-05 on Android One devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28175025 and MediaTek internal bug ALPS02693738.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3799 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the MediaTek video driver component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affected Android devices released before the 2016-07-05 security patch cycle, with Android One devices being particularly susceptible. The issue stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the video driver subsystem, creating a pathway for malicious applications to execute code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability was internally tracked as Android bug 28175025 and MediaTek bug ALPS02693738, indicating the complexity of the issue and its cross-vendor impact across the mobile ecosystem.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted application that leverages memory corruption flaws within the MediaTek video driver. The flaw exists in how the driver handles specific video processing commands and buffer management, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory structures and execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-119, which describes "Improper Access to Memory Locations" and represents a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue. The attack vector requires a malicious application to be installed on the device, as the vulnerability cannot be exploited through network-based attacks or remote code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to bypass Android's security model entirely. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application gains full system privileges, allowing access to all device data, ability to install additional malware, modify system files, and potentially create persistent backdoors. This privilege escalation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for mobile devices, as it essentially provides attackers with complete control over the device. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android One devices and other MediaTek-based smartphones, making it a significant concern for millions of users worldwide.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google and device manufacturers. Users should ensure their devices receive the Android security update released on 2016-07-05, which addressed the underlying memory handling issues in the MediaTek video driver. Additionally, organizations should implement mobile device management policies that enforce timely security updates and restrict installation of untrusted applications. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and represents a common attack pattern where initial access through malicious applications leads to system-level compromise. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious application installations and maintain awareness of the specific MediaTek driver versions affected by this vulnerability to implement appropriate security controls.