CVE-2016-5349 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The high level operating systems (HLOS) was not providing sufficient memory address information to ensure that secure applications inside Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment (QSEE) only write to legitimate memory ranges related to the QSEE secure application's HLOS client.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-5349 represents a critical memory management flaw within Qualcomm's High Level Operating Systems that directly impacts the security boundaries of the Secure Execution Environment. This issue stems from insufficient memory address validation mechanisms that fail to properly restrict secure applications running within the QSEE from accessing unauthorized memory regions. The flaw specifically affects the HLOS client components that interact with secure applications, creating a potential pathway for privilege escalation and data leakage attacks. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it undermines the fundamental security model of the Qualcomm secure execution environment where trusted applications should operate within strictly defined memory boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through inadequate memory address validation during secure application execution within the QSEE framework. When secure applications process data or execute operations, the HLOS client fails to properly verify that memory write operations occur within legitimate address ranges associated with the specific secure application's context. This lack of proper address validation allows malicious actors to potentially manipulate memory access patterns and gain unauthorized access to memory regions that should remain isolated. The flaw operates at the intersection of hardware security features and software memory management, where the secure execution environment's memory protection mechanisms are bypassed due to insufficient validation controls. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are core memory safety issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-5349 extends beyond simple memory corruption, potentially enabling sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise the entire secure execution environment. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the secure application context, potentially accessing sensitive cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other protected data stored within the QSEE. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that could remain active across multiple system states, as the memory validation controls are implemented at the HLOS client level rather than being properly enforced at the hardware or secure execution environment level. This weakness could be exploited by attackers who gain access to the device's normal execution environment, potentially using privilege escalation techniques to reach the secure application boundaries where the vulnerability exists.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require a multi-layered approach addressing both the immediate memory validation gaps and broader system security posture. System vendors should implement enhanced memory address validation controls within the HLOS client components to ensure that all memory operations within QSEE secure applications are properly bounded and validated against legitimate address ranges. The implementation should follow ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers exploit for privilege escalation, by ensuring that memory access controls are properly enforced during secure application execution. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing runtime memory protection mechanisms and regular security assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management controls in secure execution environments and underscores the need for robust validation of memory operations within trusted computing platforms.