CVE-2016-3869 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The Broadcom Wi-Fi driver in Android before 2016-09-05 on Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C devices allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 29009982 and Broadcom internal bug RB#96070.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation flaw in the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems. The issue affects specific Nexus and Pixel devices released prior to the 2016-09-05 security patch cycle, creating a persistent security weakness that could be exploited by malicious applications. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the driver's kernel-level components, allowing unprivileged applications to execute code with elevated privileges. This flaw is particularly concerning as it operates at the kernel level, bypassing standard Android security boundaries and access controls that normally protect system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific memory corruption issue within the Wi-Fi driver's handling of network packets or driver interfaces. Attackers can craft malicious applications that exploit buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in the driver's processing routines, enabling them to manipulate kernel memory structures and escalate their privileges from application level to system level. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-119 which describes weaknesses related to the use of untrusted data in a way that can cause memory corruption. The exploitation requires a crafted application that can interact with the Wi-Fi driver through legitimate system interfaces, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to detect through standard security monitoring.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected devices. Once exploited, malicious actors can access all device data, install applications, modify system settings, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability affects multiple high-profile devices including Nexus 5, Nexus 6, Nexus 6P, Nexus 9, Nexus Player, and Pixel C, representing a significant portion of the Android ecosystem at the time. This widespread impact creates substantial risk for users and organizations relying on these devices for sensitive operations, as the vulnerability can be exploited through seemingly legitimate applications that appear to be benign.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google and Broadcom in the 2016-09-05 update cycle. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches across all affected devices and implement additional monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Network administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that might exploit this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation tactic. Security teams should monitor for suspicious network activity related to Wi-Fi driver interactions and implement behavioral analysis to detect anomalous patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers and security researchers should also consider implementing additional kernel hardening measures and runtime protections to prevent similar vulnerabilities from occurring in future implementations.