CVE-2016-3867 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm IPA driver in Android before 2016-09-05 on Nexus 5X and 6P devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 28919863 and Qualcomm internal bug CR1037897.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3867 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm IPA (Internet Protocol Accelerator) driver component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects Nexus 5X and 6P devices running Android versions prior to the 2016-09-05 security update, creating a persistent security risk that enables malicious applications to elevate their privileges and gain unauthorized system-level access. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the IPA driver, which processes network traffic acceleration data. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a specially designed application that leverages the driver's insufficient bounds checking mechanisms, allowing them to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The vulnerability was internally tracked as Android bug 28919863 and Qualcomm bug CR1037897, indicating the complexity and severity of the underlying issue.
The technical implementation of this privilege escalation vulnerability resides in the Qualcomm IPA driver's handling of user-space memory mappings and kernel data structures. When a malicious application interacts with the IPA driver through legitimate system interfaces, the driver fails to properly validate memory access parameters and buffer boundaries. This allows attackers to manipulate kernel memory through crafted input data, effectively bypassing Android's traditional security boundaries. The vulnerability manifests when the driver processes network packets or data flow information that contains maliciously constructed data structures. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the form of improper validation of input data, specifically CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which together create the conditions necessary for privilege escalation. The flaw exploits the fundamental trust model between user-space applications and kernel drivers, allowing malicious code to manipulate kernel memory directly.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, creating a comprehensive attack surface that enables sophisticated malicious activities. Once successfully exploited, attackers can gain complete control over the device's kernel, allowing them to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access encrypted data, and monitor network traffic. The vulnerability affects all applications running on affected devices, meaning that even seemingly benign applications could be used as attack vectors through the IPA driver's interface. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where mobile devices handle sensitive corporate data, as attackers can silently establish persistent access without requiring user interaction or device compromise. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK framework technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, specifically targeting kernel-level vulnerabilities to achieve system-level control. The long-term exposure period between the vulnerability disclosure and the security patch release created additional risk as attackers had ample time to develop and deploy exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3867 focus primarily on timely patch deployment and device management. The most effective approach involves applying the Android security update released on 2016-09-05, which includes patches to the Qualcomm IPA driver that address the input validation flaws. Organizations should implement robust mobile device management policies to ensure all affected devices receive security updates promptly. Network monitoring solutions can help detect suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, though the vulnerability's stealth nature makes detection challenging. Device administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting and kernel integrity checking mechanisms. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure driver development practices, particularly in mobile platforms where hardware-specific drivers interact with the core operating system. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their mobile device fleets and maintain awareness of vendor security advisories to prevent similar issues from affecting their environments.