CVE-2016-6686 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The NVIDIA profiler in Android before 2016-10-05 on Nexus 9 devices allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application, aka internal bug 30163101.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6686 represents a significant security flaw in the NVIDIA profiler component embedded within Android operating systems prior to the 2016-10-05 security patch cycle. This issue specifically affects Nexus 9 devices and stems from improper access controls within the profiler functionality that enables malicious applications to extract sensitive information from the system. The vulnerability operates at the system level where the NVIDIA profiler, designed for performance monitoring and debugging purposes, fails to properly enforce security boundaries between legitimate system processes and potentially harmful applications. This misconfiguration creates an information disclosure channel that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to system data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the insufficient validation and access control mechanisms within the NVIDIA profiler service. When a crafted application attempts to interact with the profiler interface, the system fails to properly authenticate or authorize the request, allowing unauthorized access to profiling data that should remain restricted to privileged system components. This flaw aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control issues in software systems, where inadequate authorization checks enable attackers to access resources they should not be permitted to reach. The vulnerability demonstrates how profiling tools intended for legitimate debugging purposes can become attack vectors when proper security boundaries are not enforced.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6686 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the extracted sensitive data could potentially include system configuration details, memory contents, or other profiling information that might aid in further exploitation attempts. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gather intelligence about the device's internal state, potentially identifying other weaknesses in the system architecture or discovering patterns that could lead to privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the October 2016 security update, leaving users exposed to attacks that could compromise device integrity and user privacy. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where devices handle sensitive personal and corporate data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google and NVIDIA as part of the 2016-10-05 update cycle. Organizations should ensure all Nexus 9 devices are updated to the latest Android security patches to eliminate this exposure. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious application behavior that might indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. The fix typically involves strengthening access controls within the NVIDIA profiler service and ensuring proper authentication mechanisms are in place before allowing any data access. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in system-level components, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's defense evasion techniques that emphasize how improper access controls can be leveraged for information gathering and privilege escalation activities.