CVE-2016-3870 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
omx/SimpleSoftOMXComponent.cpp in libstagefright in mediaserver in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, 6.x before 2016-09-01, and 7.0 before 2016-09-01 does not prevent input-port changes, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka internal bug 29421804.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3870 resides within the libstagefright multimedia framework component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting versions prior to their respective security patches released in September 2016. This flaw exists in the omx/SimpleSoftOMXComponent.cpp file within the mediaserver process, which handles multimedia decoding and processing operations. The vulnerability represents a critical privilege escalation issue that can be exploited by malicious applications to gain elevated system privileges through manipulation of input port configurations during multimedia processing operations. The affected Android versions include 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, 6.x before the September 2016 security update, and 7.0 before the same security patch release. This vulnerability was internally tracked as bug 29421804, indicating its severity and the attention it received from Google's security team.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient validation within the SimpleSoftOMXComponent implementation that fails to properly prevent changes to input ports during multimedia processing operations. When an application attempts to process multimedia content through the affected mediaserver component, the system does not adequately verify or restrict modifications to input port configurations that could alter the component's operational behavior. This lack of input validation creates a condition where an attacker-controlled application can manipulate the component's internal state by changing input ports, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically targets the OMX (OpenMAX) component architecture that governs multimedia processing within Android, where components are responsible for handling various media formats and codecs. The flaw allows for arbitrary code execution within the context of the mediaserver process, which typically operates with elevated privileges due to its role in system-level multimedia processing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to achieve privilege escalation from regular application level to system level access without requiring physical device compromise or user interaction beyond installing a malicious application. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the mediaserver process, which can lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, persistent backdoor installation, and access to sensitive system resources. The mediaserver process typically has access to various system components, including camera, microphone, and network interfaces, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking broad system access. This vulnerability affects millions of Android devices globally as it spans multiple major Android versions, including the widely used Android 5.0 Lollipop and 6.0 Marshmallow releases. The exploitation requires only a malicious application that can trigger the vulnerable code path during multimedia processing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through normal app distribution channels.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve applying the security patches released by Google in their September 2016 Android security updates, which include fixes for the input port validation issue in the libstagefright component. System administrators and device manufacturers should ensure all affected Android versions are updated to their patched counterparts, with particular attention to the specific version numbers mentioned in the vulnerability description. Organizations should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability, and monitor for suspicious multimedia processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Buffer Boundary, as it involves improper handling of buffer operations during multimedia processing. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Privilege Escalation and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation allows for privilege escalation and subsequent command execution within the system. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where malicious code is executed through legitimate system components, and T1072 Software Deployment Tools, as the exploitation requires the presence of vulnerable software components in the target environment.