CVE-2016-6694 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
sound/soc/msm/qdsp6v2/msm-ds2-dap-config.c in a Qualcomm QDSP6v2 driver in Android before 2016-10-05 allows attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted parameter data, aka Qualcomm internal bug CR 1033525.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6694 resides within the Qualcomm QDSP6v2 driver component of Android systems, specifically in the sound/soc/msm/qdsp6v2/msm-ds2-dap-config.c file. This driver operates within the Android kernel space and manages audio processing configurations for Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, particularly those utilizing the QDSP6v2 architecture. The flaw manifests as a lack of proper input validation within the driver's parameter handling mechanism, creating a potential attack surface where maliciously crafted data can be injected into the system's audio processing pipeline.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking and parameter validation within the driver's configuration parsing functions. When the system processes audio configuration data through the msm-ds2-dap-config.c module, it fails to adequately validate the size, format, or content of incoming parameter data. This absence of validation allows attackers to submit malformed or oversized parameter structures that can cause the driver to behave unpredictably. The vulnerability specifically affects the DAP (Dynamic Audio Processing) configuration component, which handles real-time audio processing parameters for various audio subsystems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability spans both denial of service and potential for more severe consequences. An attacker capable of submitting crafted parameter data could trigger a system crash or complete system freeze, effectively causing a denial of service condition that would render the device unusable until reboot. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest that under certain conditions, this vulnerability could potentially allow for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the kernel space, though the exact scope of such capabilities remains undefined. The vulnerability's classification as a kernel-level issue means that successful exploitation could compromise the entire system's security posture.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and relates to the broader category of improper input validation issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a potential privilege escalation vector through kernel exploitation techniques, specifically mapping to T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that this vulnerability affects Android versions prior to 2016-10-05, indicating a prolonged window of exposure for devices running affected firmware. The Qualcomm internal bug reference CR 1033525 suggests this was recognized as a significant issue within the vendor's internal quality assurance processes, though the patching timeline indicates a delayed response to the vulnerability disclosure.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Qualcomm and Google as part of their regular security updates. System administrators should ensure that all affected Android devices receive the October 2016 security update or later versions that contain the necessary fixes. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring for unusual audio processing behaviors or parameter validation failures can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves adding proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms within the driver's parameter parsing code, ensuring that all incoming data structures conform to expected formats and sizes before processing. Organizations should also consider implementing device firmware lockdown mechanisms and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other kernel components.