CVE-2016-6730 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the NVIDIA GPU driver in Android before 2016-11-05 could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as Critical due to the possibility of a local permanent device compromise, which may require reflashing the operating system to repair the device. Android ID: A-30904789. References: NVIDIA N-CVE-2016-6730.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the NVIDIA GPU driver component of Android systems prior to the 2016-11-05 security patch release. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling within the graphics driver kernel module, creating a pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and gain kernel-level execution capabilities. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of GPU-related system calls and memory management operations that should have been restricted to privileged kernel contexts but were accessible to unprivileged user-space processes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a combination of buffer overflow conditions and improper access control mechanisms within the GPU driver's kernel code. Attackers can leverage specific GPU command submission interfaces to manipulate kernel memory structures and execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges. This flaw directly maps to CWE-20: Improper Input Validation and CWE-269: Improper Privilege Management, as it involves both inadequate validation of user-supplied data and failure to properly enforce privilege boundaries. The vulnerability exists because the driver fails to properly validate GPU command parameters and does not adequately enforce the separation between user-space GPU operations and kernel-space memory management functions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially permanent, as successful exploitation allows attackers to gain complete control over the device's kernel execution environment. This elevated privilege level enables attackers to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, bypass security mechanisms, and potentially compromise the entire device functionality. The critical nature of this vulnerability is underscored by the requirement for full system reinstallation to remediate the issue, indicating that the compromise affects fundamental system integrity. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it provides a pathway for executing arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges and maintaining persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of the security patch released by NVIDIA and Android in the 2016-11-05 update cycle. System administrators and device manufacturers must ensure all affected devices receive the patched GPU driver components to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring for suspicious GPU command sequences and memory access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing and privilege separation mechanisms to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs, though the fundamental fix requires the patched driver components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive driver security testing and proper privilege management in kernel-space components, particularly those handling hardware-specific operations like GPU processing.