CVE-2016-3883 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
internal/telephony/SMSDispatcher.java in Telephony 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 properly construct warnings about premium SMS messages, which allows attackers to spoof the premium-payment confirmation dialog via a crafted application, aka internal bug 28557603.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3883 resides within the Android telephony subsystem, specifically in the SMSDispatcher component located at internal/telephony/SMSDispatcher.java. This flaw affects multiple Android versions including 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, representing a significant attack surface across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper construction of warnings related to premium SMS messages, which are telecommunications services that charge users for sending text messages to specific numbers, often for services like ringtones, games, or subscriptions. This technical weakness creates a critical security gap in the user interface validation process that should prevent malicious applications from mimicking legitimate premium service confirmations.
The core technical flaw manifests when an attacker crafts a malicious application that can manipulate the SMS dispatcher to display false premium payment confirmation dialogs. These dialogs appear to originate from legitimate premium service providers but are actually generated by the malicious application, exploiting the insufficient validation of the warning construction mechanism. The vulnerability essentially allows for UI spoofing attacks where attackers can trick users into believing they are confirming legitimate premium SMS transactions while actually being deceived by fraudulent interfaces. This represents a direct violation of user trust and security expectations in mobile communications, as users may unknowingly authorize payments to unauthorized parties through these deceptive interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple deception to potentially enable financial fraud and unauthorized transactions. Users may unknowingly authorize premium SMS services that charge their mobile accounts, with attackers able to construct convincing dialog boxes that appear identical to legitimate system warnings. The attack vector requires a malicious application to be installed on the device, but once present, it can exploit the vulnerability to intercept or manipulate SMS interactions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-602, which addresses client-side attacks via untrusted input, and represents a significant risk to mobile payment security. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, where the malicious application leverages system-level interfaces to execute unauthorized actions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3883 primarily involve applying the relevant Android security patches released by Google, which address the improper warning construction in the SMS dispatcher component. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest security patches, particularly those released in September 2016 for the affected Android versions. System administrators and security professionals should implement mobile device management policies that restrict the installation of untrusted applications and monitor for suspicious SMS behavior. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of installing applications from untrusted sources and the importance of verifying premium SMS charges through their carrier's official channels. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and UI security in mobile platforms, where user interfaces must be protected against manipulation by malicious applications. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual premium SMS patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive mobile security frameworks that protect not only the underlying system components but also the user interaction layers that users trust implicitly.