CVE-2016-6726 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Qualcomm components in Android on Nexus 6 and Android One devices.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/28/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6726 represents a critical security flaw within Qualcomm components that affect Android devices including Nexus 6 and Android One models. This issue resides in the Qualcomm Snapdragon processor family and impacts the underlying Android operating system through proprietary Qualcomm hardware components. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the security patches released in August 2016, creating a window of exposure for users who had not yet received the necessary updates.
This unspecified vulnerability falls under the category of hardware-level security flaws that can compromise the integrity of mobile device security mechanisms. The Qualcomm components affected are typically responsible for managing secure boot processes, cryptographic operations, and hardware-level security features that protect against unauthorized access and malicious code execution. The nature of the vulnerability suggests it may involve weaknesses in the TrustZone or Secure Execution Environment that are fundamental to Qualcomm's security architecture. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability could relate to CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer or CWE-200 Information Exposure, depending on the specific implementation details.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6726 extends beyond simple data exposure, potentially allowing attackers to bypass hardware-level security controls and gain elevated privileges within the device's secure environment. Mobile threat actors could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges, effectively undermining the device's security model and potentially enabling persistent backdoors. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that these devices were widely deployed and often used in enterprise environments where sensitive data resides. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could map to techniques such as T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1543 Create or Modify System Process, as the flaw enables attackers to manipulate system-level processes and gain unauthorized access to protected resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by Google and Qualcomm, as well as device manufacturers who distributed affected hardware. The recommended approach includes updating to Android security patch level 2016-08-05 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the Qualcomm components. Organizations should also implement device management policies to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly. Network monitoring solutions should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts, and security teams should conduct comprehensive risk assessments of devices running vulnerable software versions. The vulnerability highlights the importance of coordinated security updates between hardware vendors and operating system providers, as these interdependencies create complex attack vectors that require synchronized remediation efforts across multiple software layers.