CVE-2016-3809 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The networking component in Android before 2016-07-05 on Android One, Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C devices allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka internal bug 27532522.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3809 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the Android networking subsystem that affected numerous flagship devices released prior to the 2016-07-05 security update. This weakness specifically targeted the networking component of Android operating systems, creating an avenue for malicious applications to extract sensitive data from the underlying system. The affected devices include critical hardware platforms such as the Android One series, Nexus 5, Nexus 5X, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 7 (2013), Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C devices, indicating a broad impact across Google's Nexus device portfolio and the Android One program. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the network stack, allowing crafted applications to bypass normal security boundaries and access information that should remain restricted to system-level processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw in how the Android networking component handles specific network requests or data processing operations, creating a path for privilege escalation or information leakage. Attackers could exploit this weakness by installing a malicious application that leverages the flawed network handling routines to extract sensitive information from the device's memory or system resources. This typically involves manipulating network protocol implementations or exploiting race conditions within the networking stack that allow unauthorized access to data that should be protected by the operating system's security model. The vulnerability operates at the system level rather than requiring user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without explicit user consent or awareness.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3809 extends beyond simple information disclosure, potentially enabling attackers to access device credentials, network configuration data, or other sensitive system information that could facilitate further exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information exposure vulnerabilities, and represents a classic example of how network stack flaws can create persistent security risks across multiple device platforms. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices were widely deployed and often used in enterprise environments where sensitive data transmission occurs regularly. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to privilege escalation and credential access techniques, as it enables attackers to obtain information that could be used to compromise user accounts or system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate deployment of the security patch released by Google on 2016-07-05, which addressed the underlying networking component flaw through proper input validation and access control enforcement. Device administrators should have implemented comprehensive patch management programs to ensure all affected devices received the update promptly. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates how network stack components require rigorous security testing. Organizations using these devices should have conducted vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Android versions and implemented monitoring for suspicious network activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should have reviewed application installation policies to prevent unauthorized apps from being installed on these devices, as the vulnerability specifically required a crafted application to be present for exploitation to occur.