CVE-2016-3916 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
camera/src/camera_metadata.c in the Camera service 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, aka internal bug 30741779.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3916 represents a privilege escalation flaw within the Android Camera service implementation that affects multiple versions of the Android operating system. This security weakness resides in the camera_metadata.c source file which handles metadata processing for camera operations. The vulnerability enables malicious applications to elevate their privileges from standard user level to system level access, creating a significant security risk for affected Android devices.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and handling within the camera service's metadata processing subsystem. When the Camera service processes metadata from applications, it fails to adequately validate the structure and content of incoming metadata parameters. This validation gap allows crafted malicious applications to manipulate the metadata in ways that trigger unintended behavior within the system's privilege management mechanisms. The flaw operates at the kernel level where camera service components interact with system-level resources, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring physical access or prior system compromise.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents a severe threat to Android device security as it allows attackers to gain system-level privileges through seemingly benign applications. The exploitation process typically involves installing a malicious application that crafts specific metadata inputs designed to trigger the privilege escalation mechanism. Once successful, the attacker gains full system access which can be used to install additional malware, extract sensitive data, modify system files, or disable security controls. This vulnerability affects the core Android framework components and impacts devices running versions from Android 4.x through 7.0, making it particularly widespread across the Android ecosystem during that period.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" and relates to improper handling of buffer boundaries in memory management. Additionally, it maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," which covers methods used to elevate privileges through software vulnerabilities. The attack vector specifically targets the Android Camera service's metadata processing pipeline, which is a legitimate system component that applications legitimately access during normal operation. This makes the exploitation more difficult to detect as it appears to be normal system behavior rather than malicious activity. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability demonstrates poor input sanitization practices and inadequate privilege boundary enforcement within the Android framework's camera subsystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the official security patches released by Google for the affected Android versions, which typically involve strengthening input validation in the camera metadata processing code and implementing stricter privilege enforcement mechanisms. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications, monitoring for suspicious camera service behavior, and maintaining up-to-date device security configurations. Device manufacturers and carriers should prioritize rapid deployment of security updates to affected devices, as this vulnerability represents a critical risk that can be exploited remotely. Network administrators should also implement mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and monitor for potential exploitation attempts.