CVE-2016-4288 in App Player
Summary
by MITRE
A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in BlueStacks App Player. The BlueStacks App Player installer creates a registry key with weak permissions that allows users to execute arbitrary programs with SYSTEM privileges.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4288 represents a critical local privilege escalation flaw within BlueStacks App Player, a popular Android emulator software. This issue stems from the installer's improper handling of registry key permissions during the installation process, creating a persistent security weakness that can be exploited by local attackers to gain elevated SYSTEM privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects Windows operating systems where BlueStacks is installed, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of this emulation platform among both casual users and enterprise environments.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the weak permission settings applied to a registry key created by the BlueStacks installer. When the application installs, it generates a registry entry that should normally be protected from unauthorized modification or execution. However, due to insufficient permission controls, local users can manipulate this registry key to execute arbitrary code with the highest privilege level available on the system. This misconfiguration allows attackers to bypass normal access controls and elevate their privileges from standard user level to SYSTEM level, effectively granting them complete control over the affected machine. The vulnerability operates under the broader category of privilege escalation flaws classified as CWE-264, which encompasses issues related to improper permissions and access control mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code with SYSTEM privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Once an attacker gains SYSTEM-level access through this vulnerability, they can install rootkits, modify system files, access encrypted data, and perform other malicious activities that would otherwise be restricted. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any local user who has access to the system. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through registry modification and execution with elevated privileges, making it a valuable target for threat actors seeking persistent access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4288 should focus on immediate remediation through official patches provided by BlueStacks, as well as temporary workarounds to address the registry key permissions. System administrators should verify that the registry key permissions have been properly configured with restricted access controls, limiting modifications to only authorized system processes and users with legitimate administrative needs. Additionally, implementing proper access control lists and monitoring registry modifications can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider applying the principle of least privilege by restricting user accounts from having unnecessary permissions that could be exploited to manipulate system registry entries. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper permission management in installation processes and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components to prevent similar issues in other software applications.