CVE-2016-3868 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Qualcomm power 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 28967028 and Qualcomm internal bug CR1032875.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3868 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Qualcomm power management driver component of Android operating systems. This issue specifically affects Nexus 5X and 6P devices running Android versions prior to the security patch released on September 5, 2016. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and improper privilege handling within the kernel-level power driver module, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious applications to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level access. The flaw manifests through a carefully crafted application that can manipulate the power management interface to gain unauthorized system privileges, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that separate user applications from system-level operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves exploitation of a kernel-mode driver that handles power management functions for Qualcomm Snapdragon processors. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing a malicious application that interacts with the vulnerable power driver through specific ioctl (input/output control) commands or memory manipulation techniques. The flaw operates at the kernel level where privilege separation mechanisms fail to properly validate the origin and legitimacy of power management requests, allowing a compromised application to inject code or manipulate kernel memory structures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" and is particularly dangerous because it operates in kernel space where the attacker can gain complete control over the device's operating system functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete system control over affected devices. Once exploited, the malicious application can access all device data, modify system files, install additional malware, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects not just individual applications but the entire device security model, as it undermines the fundamental principle of privilege separation between user-space applications and kernel-space operations. This makes it particularly concerning for mobile devices where users store sensitive personal and corporate data, as the compromise can lead to full device takeover and data exfiltration. The vulnerability also impacts the device's integrity by allowing attackers to modify critical system components without proper authorization, potentially rendering security features ineffective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3868 primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google and Qualcomm, which address the underlying kernel driver implementation issues. Organizations should ensure that all Nexus 5X and 6P devices are updated to Android security patch level 2016-09-05 or later, which includes fixes for the power driver privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators should also implement device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and regularly audit device configurations for compliance with security best practices. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security testing and proper input validation in mobile operating systems, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques where kernel exploits represent one of the most dangerous attack vectors. The fix typically involves implementing stricter validation of power management requests, proper privilege checking mechanisms, and enhanced memory protection features that prevent unauthorized access to kernel resources.