CVE-2016-3815 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The NVIDIA camera driver in Android before 2016-07-05 on Nexus 9 devices allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28522274.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/22/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3815 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the NVIDIA camera driver component of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affected Nexus 9 devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-07-05 security patch release. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and access control mechanisms within the camera driver module, which processes camera-related system calls and data transfers. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that leverage improper privilege handling within the driver's memory management and data access pathways.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a privilege escalation vector where unprivileged applications can manipulate camera driver interfaces to access kernel-level memory regions containing sensitive information. The flaw operates through improper validation of user-space inputs passed to kernel-space driver functions, allowing attackers to read memory locations that should remain protected from application access. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and more specifically aligns with CWE-264, representing permissions, privileges, and access control issues. The camera driver component typically operates with elevated privileges to manage hardware resources, but the lack of proper boundary checking enables unauthorized information retrieval.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3815 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the sensitive data potentially accessible through this vulnerability could include system memory contents, camera configuration parameters, and potentially other kernel-level information that could be leveraged for further exploitation. Attackers could use this information to understand system internals, identify other potential vulnerabilities, or build more sophisticated attacks targeting the device's security model. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions where the camera driver was not properly hardened against malicious input, particularly impacting the Nexus 9 platform which was known to be vulnerable to such privilege escalation attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of the security patch released by Google on July 5th, 2016, which addressed the camera driver's access control mechanisms and input validation procedures. System administrators should ensure all Nexus 9 devices receive the latest security updates, as this vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. The remediation process involves updating the Android operating system to version 6.0 or later, which includes hardened kernel drivers and improved privilege separation mechanisms. Additionally, organizations should implement mobile device management policies to ensure automatic security updates are enabled and regularly monitored for compliance. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper kernel driver security and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for enterprise mobile security programs and device management protocols.