CVE-2016-6492 in Driver
Summary
by MITRE
The MT6573FDVT_SetRegHW function in camera_fdvt.c in the MediaTek driver for Linux allows local users to gain privileges via a crafted application that makes an MT6573FDVTIOC_T_SET_FDCONF_CMD IOCTL call.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6492 resides within the MediaTek MT6573FDVT_SetRegHW function located in the camera_fdvt.c driver file for Linux systems. This represents a critical privilege escalation flaw that specifically targets the MediaTek chipset family commonly found in mobile devices and embedded systems. The vulnerability manifests through improper input validation within the driver's IOCTL handling mechanism, creating an exploitable condition that allows local attackers to elevate their privileges from standard user level to kernel level access.
The technical flaw occurs when a malicious application executes a crafted MT6573FDVTIOC_T_SET_FDCONF_CMD IOCTL call against the vulnerable driver interface. This IOCTL command is designed to configure face detection parameters within the camera subsystem, but the underlying implementation fails to properly validate the input parameters passed to the MT6573FDVT_SetRegHW function. The lack of proper bounds checking and parameter sanitization enables attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures through carefully crafted input data. This vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically relates to improper validation of input parameters in kernel drivers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local users with complete system compromise capabilities. Once exploited, the attacker gains full kernel-level privileges, enabling them to bypass all system security controls, access sensitive data, modify system files, and potentially install persistent backdoors. The attack vector requires local access to the system, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted applications might be executed. This vulnerability affects devices running Linux kernels with MediaTek chipsets, particularly those implementing the camera subsystem driver with the vulnerable MT6573FDVT_SetRegHW function. The privilege escalation occurs through the kernel's device driver interface, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard user-space security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6492 should focus on both immediate patching and system hardening approaches. The primary solution involves applying the official driver patches provided by MediaTek or the device manufacturers that address the input validation issues in the IOCTL handling mechanism. Organizations should also implement kernel module signing requirements to prevent unauthorized driver loading, utilize kernel address space layout randomization to complicate exploitation attempts, and deploy runtime application control measures to restrict execution of potentially malicious applications. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper kernel driver security practices and adherence to secure coding guidelines, particularly regarding IOCTL parameter validation and memory management. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and represents a classic example of how driver-level vulnerabilities can be exploited to achieve complete system compromise.