CVE-2016-3932 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
mediaserver in Android before 2016-10-05 allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, aka Android internal bug 29161895 and MediaTek internal bug ALPS02770870.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-3932 represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Android mediaserver component that existed prior to the 2016-10-05 security patch release. This vulnerability affects Android versions where the mediaserver service fails to properly validate input parameters, creating an opportunity for malicious applications to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The issue manifests through a crafted application that exploits a weakness in how the mediaserver processes media-related data, allowing unauthorized access to system resources and capabilities typically restricted to privileged processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the mediaserver daemon, which handles multimedia processing tasks in the Android operating system. Attackers can leverage this flaw by constructing a malicious application that triggers a specific sequence of operations within the media framework, ultimately leading to privilege escalation. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the system level where the mediaserver runs with elevated permissions, enabling attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and gain root access to the device. The flaw affects devices running Android versions prior to the October 2016 security update, making it a widespread concern across numerous Android implementations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for Android devices, as it allows attackers to execute code with system-level privileges without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond installing a malicious application. The impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation to potentially enable full device compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow, depending on the specific exploitation mechanism. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," highlights its potential for unauthorized system access and control.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-3932 primarily focus on applying the Android security patches released in October 2016, which address the underlying validation issues within the mediaserver component. Organizations and users should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected Android devices, particularly those running versions prior to the patched releases. Additionally, network security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior and unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. Device administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting the installation of untrusted applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining current security patches and highlights the critical nature of proper input validation in system services. Security professionals should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify devices running affected Android versions and ensure comprehensive remediation across all endpoints.