CVE-2016-3860 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
sound/soc/msm/qdsp6v2/audio_calibration.c in the Qualcomm sound driver in Android before 2016-10-05 on Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Android One devices allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 29323142 and Qualcomm internal bug CR 1038127.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3860 resides within the Qualcomm sound driver component of Android operating systems, specifically in the audio_calibration.c file located within the msm/qdsp6v2 directory of the sound/soc subsystem. This flaw affects devices including the Nexus 5X, Nexus 6P, and Android One models, with the vulnerability existing in Android versions prior to the 2016-10-05 security patch release. The issue represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that allows malicious applications to extract sensitive system data through carefully crafted payloads.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the audio calibration subsystem. The qdsp6v2 audio driver component handles communication between the application layer and the Qualcomm Digital Signal Processor, which processes audio data for various sound-related functions including voice calls, music playback, and audio recording. When a crafted application attempts to interact with the audio calibration interface, the driver fails to properly validate the input parameters, allowing unauthorized access to kernel memory regions containing sensitive information. This misconfiguration creates a path for attackers to read arbitrary memory locations through the sound driver's interface.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with access to potentially sensitive data that could include kernel memory contents, device configuration parameters, or other confidential system information. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the device's internal architecture, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as privilege escalation or further exploitation of other vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-200, which describes "Information Exposure," and represents a significant concern for mobile device security where audio processing components often maintain elevated privileges. The attack vector requires only a malicious application to be installed on the target device, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard app installation processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of the security patch released by Google on 2016-10-05, which addresses the input validation issues within the audio_calibration.c file. Device manufacturers should ensure all affected devices receive the appropriate security updates, while users should regularly update their Android systems to protect against this and similar vulnerabilities. Network administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing application control policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications. The vulnerability's presence in the qdsp6v2 subsystem also highlights the importance of proper kernel memory management and input validation across all device drivers, particularly those handling sensitive audio processing functions. This flaw demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing of audio and multimedia subsystems, as these components often operate with elevated privileges and can provide attackers with valuable system information through seemingly benign interfaces. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and information gathering techniques, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches that protect not only user applications but also the underlying kernel components that provide access to sensitive system resources.