CVE-2016-3914 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in providers/telephony/MmsProvider.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 2016-10-01, and 7.0 before 2016-10-01 allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application that modifies a database between two open operations, aka internal bug 30481342.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-3914 represents a critical race condition within the Android telephony subsystem, specifically within the MmsProvider component that manages multimedia messaging services. This flaw exists in 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 2016-10-01, and 7.0 before 2016-10-01, indicating a widespread issue affecting the core telephony functionality of these operating systems. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms during database operations within the telephony provider framework, creating a window where concurrent access can lead to unpredictable behavior and privilege escalation.
The technical implementation of this race condition occurs in the providers/telephony/MmsProvider.java file where database operations are performed without adequate locking mechanisms. When a malicious application attempts to exploit this vulnerability, it can manipulate the database state between two separate open operations, effectively creating a timing attack scenario. The flaw allows an attacker to modify database records in such a way that subsequent operations may read corrupted or manipulated data, leading to unauthorized privilege elevation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in software implementations where multiple threads or processes access shared resources without proper synchronization, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation through system-level vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables attackers to gain elevated privileges on affected Android devices, potentially allowing them to access sensitive user data, intercept communications, or execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions. The exploitation requires a crafted malicious application that can manipulate the timing of database operations, making it particularly insidious as it can be delivered through legitimate app stores or targeted attacks. This vulnerability represents a significant threat to mobile device security since it directly impacts the core telephony functionality that users rely on for communication, potentially compromising not just individual device security but also the broader communication infrastructure that depends on these services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Google as part of their regular security updates. System administrators and device users should immediately upgrade to the patched versions of Android where the race condition has been addressed through proper synchronization mechanisms in the database access code. Additionally, organizations should implement mobile device management policies that enforce timely security updates and monitor for suspicious application behavior that might attempt to exploit similar timing-based vulnerabilities. The fix typically involves implementing proper locking mechanisms and atomic operations within the database transaction management code to prevent concurrent access issues that could lead to privilege escalation, thereby addressing the underlying CWE-362 race condition through proper concurrency control measures.