CVE-2016-3929 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in a Qualcomm component in Android before 2016-10-05 on Nexus 5X and 6P devices has unknown impact and attack vectors, aka internal bug 28823675.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3929 represents a critical security flaw within Qualcomm's component ecosystem that affected Android devices prior to the 2016-10-05 security patch release. This issue specifically impacted Nexus 5X and 6P devices, which were among the first smartphones to feature Qualcomm's Snapdragon 820 processor architecture. The vulnerability resides within the Qualcomm component that handles secure boot processes and hardware-level security features, making it particularly concerning for mobile device security. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability's impact and attack vectors suggests that the flaw could potentially enable attackers to bypass critical security mechanisms that protect the device's integrity and confidentiality. This type of vulnerability typically affects the foundational security infrastructure of mobile platforms, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or unauthorized access to sensitive system components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability appears to be rooted in the Qualcomm component's handling of cryptographic operations and secure element management within the Android security framework. When examining the underlying architecture, this flaw likely resides in the TrustZone or similar hardware security modules that are responsible for maintaining the integrity of the boot process and protecting sensitive cryptographic keys. The vulnerability's classification as an unspecified issue indicates that the exact technical mechanism remains undisclosed, which is common for zero-day vulnerabilities that have not yet been fully analyzed by the security community. The internal bug reference 28823675 suggests that Qualcomm was aware of this issue internally before its public disclosure, highlighting the complexity of mobile security vulnerabilities that span multiple layers of the hardware-software stack. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-254, which covers security weaknesses in cryptographic implementations, or CWE-310, which addresses cryptographic weaknesses in the system.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3929 extends beyond simple device compromise, as it could potentially enable attackers to gain root access to the device's secure execution environment. Mobile devices running affected software versions would be vulnerable to attacks that could compromise the entire security architecture, including the ability to bypass secure boot mechanisms, access encrypted storage, or extract sensitive cryptographic keys. This vulnerability particularly affects the Android Verified Boot process, which is designed to ensure that only trusted software runs on the device. Attackers could potentially exploit this flaw to install malicious firmware or rootkits that persist across device reboots, making detection and remediation extremely difficult. The impact is further compounded by the fact that the Nexus 5X and 6P devices were widely deployed, meaning that a large number of users were potentially exposed to this vulnerability for an extended period before the patch was released. This vulnerability would also align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1548, which addresses 'Abuse of Functionality' in the context of mobile device exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3929 primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google and Qualcomm in their respective software updates. Users should ensure that their devices receive the 2016-10-05 security update, which specifically addresses this vulnerability within the Qualcomm component. Organizations managing mobile device deployments should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure that all affected devices receive the necessary updates promptly. The vulnerability's nature suggests that it affects the device's core security infrastructure, making it critical to apply updates immediately rather than waiting for scheduled maintenance windows. Additionally, device administrators should consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and should review device access logs for signs of unauthorized access. For enterprise environments, it is recommended to establish a security baseline that includes verifying device integrity and ensuring that all hardware and software components are updated to their latest secure versions. The vulnerability's classification as a hardware-level security issue also necessitates that organizations consider the broader implications for their mobile device management policies and security protocols.