CVE-2016-3904 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm bus driver in Android before 2016-11-05 could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Android ID: A-30311977. References: Qualcomm QC-CR#1050455.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3904 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm bus driver component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability affects Android versions prior to the 2016-11-05 security patch release and operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous for system integrity. The issue stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the Qualcomm bus driver implementation, which allows a local malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute code with kernel-level permissions. The vulnerability is classified as High severity due to its requirement for an initial compromise of a privileged process, yet once achieved, it provides complete system control.
The technical flaw manifests in the Qualcomm bus driver's insufficient validation of user-supplied data during device communication operations. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the driver through improper input parameters, the driver fails to properly sanitize or validate these inputs, leading to potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The underlying mechanism involves improper handling of device driver communication protocols that should normally be restricted to system-level processes but can be exploited by malicious applications with appropriate privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over the affected Android device. Once a malicious application successfully exploits this vulnerability, it can execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, potentially allowing for full system compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The attack vector requires local access to the device and an initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." This vulnerability particularly affects devices running Android versions before the November 2016 security update, leaving millions of devices exposed to potential exploitation by attackers who can install malicious applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3904 primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches released by Google and Qualcomm. Users should ensure their devices receive the November 2016 security update that addresses this specific vulnerability in the Qualcomm bus driver. Additionally, organizations should implement strict application vetting processes to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could potentially exploit this vulnerability. System administrators should monitor for suspicious kernel-level activities and implement device management policies that restrict local application installation on critical systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device drivers before deployment, particularly those handling privileged system communications.