CVE-2016-6732 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-30906599. References: NVIDIA N-CVE-2016-6732.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
This critical elevation of privilege vulnerability exists within the NVIDIA GPU driver component of Android systems prior to the 2016-11-05 security patch release. The flaw allows a locally installed malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions, effectively bypassing the operating system's security boundaries. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the GPU driver's kernel modules, creating a path for privilege escalation that could lead to complete system compromise. The Android ID A-30906599 specifically identifies this issue within the Android security framework, highlighting its severity and the need for immediate remediation. This type of vulnerability directly maps to CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic kernel-level privilege escalation vector that has significant implications for mobile device security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the GPU driver's handling of specific kernel-level operations that should normally be restricted to privileged processes only. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the GPU driver through improper API usage or crafted inputs, it can trigger a condition where kernel memory is accessed or modified in unauthorized ways. This allows the attacker to gain kernel-level execution context, which provides complete control over the device's hardware and software resources. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or external attack surface - the malicious application merely needs to be installed on the device and executed. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple code execution to include potential data theft, persistent backdoor installation, and complete device compromise that may render the system unrecoverable without full factory reset and operating system reinstallation.
The operational consequences of this vulnerability are severe and far-reaching for Android device users and organizations deploying these systems. A successful exploitation can result in permanent device compromise, where the malicious actor maintains persistent access to all system resources and can monitor user activities, steal sensitive data, and modify system behavior. The requirement for full system reflash to remediate this issue indicates the depth of the compromise and the difficulty of recovery, as standard application-level security measures cannot address kernel-level modifications. This vulnerability affects all Android devices using affected NVIDIA GPU drivers, creating a widespread security risk across numerous device models and manufacturers. The critical rating reflects the potential for complete system takeover, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threats and malware authors seeking to establish long-term access to mobile devices.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability must focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize applying the November 2016 security patches from Google and NVIDIA to address the kernel-level flaws in the GPU driver. Device administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability. Network-level monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous GPU driver behavior or unusual system access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security audits should verify that GPU driver components are properly updated and that no unauthorized modifications exist within kernel space. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', emphasizes the need for comprehensive endpoint protection measures that can detect and prevent such kernel-level attacks. System administrators should also consider implementing device encryption and secure boot mechanisms to provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.