CVE-2016-3805 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The MediaTek power management driver in Android before 2016-07-05 on Android One devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28333002 and MediaTek internal bug ALPS02694412.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3805 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the MediaTek power management driver component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affected Android devices released before the 2016-07-05 security update window, with particular impact on Android One devices that utilized MediaTek chipsets. The flaw stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the power management driver, which governs how the device handles power states and system resources. Attackers could exploit this weakness by installing a malicious application that leverages the vulnerable driver interface to elevate privileges from a standard application context to that of the system itself.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the kernel-level power management driver that manages device power states and energy consumption. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate driver interfaces that should only be accessible to system-level processes or the kernel itself. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the power management driver, the insufficient validation of input parameters permits unauthorized access to privileged operations. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, specifically focusing on improper access control mechanisms within kernel drivers. The attack vector requires local execution of a crafted application, meaning no network connectivity or remote exploitation is necessary, making it particularly concerning for devices that may be compromised through social engineering or pre-installed malicious applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the device's power management functions and potentially other system resources. Once elevated to system privileges, an attacker could modify critical system files, disable security features, monitor user activities, or even compromise the device's secure boot process. The vulnerability affects a significant number of Android One devices that were manufactured with MediaTek chipsets, representing a broad user base that may have been exposed to this risk. From an adversary perspective, this flaw maps to multiple ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and persistence, as the elevated privileges enable long-term access and control over the compromised device. The vulnerability also demonstrates a lack of proper kernel driver security model implementation, where the power management driver fails to properly enforce the principle of least privilege.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the Android security patch released on 2016-07-05, which addressed the specific driver interface flaws. Device manufacturers and carriers should prioritize the distribution of this update to all affected Android One devices, particularly those still in use by consumers. Users should ensure their devices receive the latest security updates and avoid installing applications from untrusted sources that might exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel driver security implementation and input validation, particularly for system-critical components like power management drivers. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their Android device management policies and ensure that all devices receive timely security updates. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date firmware and kernel components, as well as implementing robust application vetting processes to prevent malicious applications from gaining access to system-level resources. The incident also demonstrates the critical relationship between hardware vendors like MediaTek and software security, where vulnerabilities in chipset drivers can affect millions of end-user devices.