CVE-2016-6757 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in Qualcomm components including the camera driver and video driver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-30148242. References: QC-CR#1052821.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-6757 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Qualcomm's Android kernel components, specifically affecting camera and video drivers in kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18. This issue stems from inadequate access control mechanisms that allow local malicious applications to bypass normal permission boundaries and access data that should be restricted to higher-privilege processes. The vulnerability exists at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it operates below the application layer where typical security controls are implemented. The flaw demonstrates a clear breakdown in the principle of least privilege, where the kernel fails to properly enforce access restrictions between different privilege levels.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of memory regions and kernel data structures within the Qualcomm camera and video driver modules. When a local application attempts to access restricted kernel memory or driver interfaces, the access control checks fail to properly validate the requesting process's privileges, allowing unauthorized data access. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-284 which specifically addresses inadequate access control mechanisms. The flaw is particularly concerning because it requires an initial compromise of a privileged process to achieve the full attack vector, but once that initial compromise occurs, the malicious application can leverage this information disclosure to escalate privileges or access sensitive data.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it creates a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks that could compromise the entire device. A malicious application that gains initial access to a privileged process could use this vulnerability to extract kernel memory contents, driver state information, or other sensitive data that could be used to further compromise the system. The vulnerability affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, which were widely deployed across various smartphone and tablet models from multiple manufacturers. This widespread impact means that numerous devices could be potentially vulnerable, particularly those that rely on Qualcomm's proprietary kernel components for camera and video functionality.
Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which involves the use of command and scripting interpreters to gain access to system resources. The information disclosure aspect of this vulnerability could provide attackers with critical system information that would aid in subsequent exploitation attempts. The Android ID A-30148242 indicates that this issue was properly tracked within Google's security reporting system, highlighting the importance of proper vulnerability disclosure and patch management. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader attack surface that includes other kernel-level flaws, particularly those that could enable privilege escalation or information gathering. The recommended mitigations include applying the latest security patches from Qualcomm and Android, implementing proper application sandboxing, and monitoring for suspicious kernel-level access patterns.
The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper kernel-level access control and memory management in mobile operating systems. It highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel components, particularly those that interface with hardware drivers and sensitive system resources. The issue also underscores the challenges of maintaining security in complex embedded systems where multiple vendors contribute components to a single platform. This vulnerability serves as a reminder that even seemingly minor access control issues at the kernel level can have significant security implications for end users. The fact that this vulnerability required initial compromise of a privileged process before exploitation was possible suggests that proper privilege separation and process isolation mechanisms were not fully effective in preventing lateral movement within the system. Organizations should implement layered security approaches that include kernel integrity monitoring, regular security assessments, and prompt patch deployment to address similar vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.