CVE-2016-5341 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The GPS component in Android before 2016-12-05 allows man-in-the-middle attackers to cause a denial of service (GPS signal-acquisition delay) via an incorrect xtra.bin or xtra2.bin file on a spoofed Qualcomm gpsonextra.net or izatcloud.net host, aka internal bug 31470303 and external bug 211602 (and AndroidID-7225554).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5341 represents a significant security flaw in the Android GPS subsystem that existed prior to the December 5, 2016 security patch release. This weakness specifically targets the GPS signal acquisition process and enables malicious actors to perform man-in-the-middle attacks that result in deliberate service disruption. The vulnerability exploits the trust model inherent in Android's GPS implementation, where the system automatically downloads and utilizes assistance data files from designated Qualcomm servers to improve GPS signal acquisition speed and accuracy. The affected Android versions contained a critical flaw in how the GPS component handled these external data files, particularly the xtra.bin and xtra2.bin files that contain satellite orbit and clock data used for faster GPS lock times.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation mechanisms within the GPS component's handling of external data sources. Attackers can compromise the gpsonextra.net or izatcloud.net domains through spoofing techniques and serve malicious xtra.bin or xtra2.bin files to vulnerable Android devices. These manipulated files contain incorrect satellite data that causes the GPS receiver to spend excessive time attempting to acquire valid satellite signals, effectively creating a denial of service condition. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the Android framework, specifically affecting the GPS subsystem's ability to properly process assistance data from external sources. The flaw is categorized under CWE-284 Access Control and CWE-345 Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity, as it involves improper validation of external data sources and inadequate access control measures for system-critical components.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the reliability of location-based services on affected devices. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause GPS signal acquisition to be delayed by several minutes or even hours, making location services unusable for critical applications such as navigation, emergency services, or location-based security systems. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges or device-specific access, making it exploitable by remote attackers who can simply compromise the DNS records or network traffic between the Android device and the legitimate Qualcomm servers. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Android devices released prior to the December 2016 security updates, potentially impacting millions of users who rely on GPS functionality for daily operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5341 primarily focus on applying the relevant security patches released by Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should ensure all Android devices are updated to versions released after December 5, 2016, which contain the necessary fixes for the GPS subsystem's data validation mechanisms. Network administrators should implement DNS security measures including DNSSEC validation and monitor for suspicious DNS resolution patterns that might indicate spoofing attempts. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 Phishing and T1071.004 Application Layer Protocol DNS, as attackers can leverage DNS spoofing to redirect legitimate GPS assistance data requests to malicious servers. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional verification mechanisms for GPS assistance data, such as cryptographic signatures or hash validation, to prevent unauthorized modification of critical assistance files. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual GPS signal acquisition delays and patterns of repeated GPS lock failures that might indicate exploitation attempts.