CVE-2016-6774 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in Package Manager could enable a local malicious application to bypass operating system protections that isolate application data from other applications. This issue is rated as Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: 7.0. Android ID: A-31251489.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6774 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Android's Package Manager component that undermines the fundamental security principle of application sandboxing. This issue resides in the Android operating system version 7.0 and affects the core package management functionality that governs how applications are installed, updated, and managed on the device. The vulnerability operates at a critical level where the Package Manager's permission checking mechanisms fail to properly enforce data isolation between applications, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to access sensitive information that should remain protected within individual application sandboxes.
The technical flaw manifests through a weakness in the Package Manager's handling of privileged processes and their interactions with application data storage. When a malicious application successfully compromises a privileged process, it can exploit this vulnerability to bypass the normal operating system protections that separate application data from other applications. This allows the compromised application to read or access data that it should not normally be able to retrieve, effectively breaking down the isolation boundaries that protect user privacy and application security. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the Package Manager validates access permissions and manages data integrity checks during package operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious security risk for Android devices running version 7.0 as it enables local privilege escalation attacks that can lead to unauthorized data access. The moderate severity rating reflects the requirement for initial compromise of a privileged process, which adds a layer of complexity to exploitation but does not eliminate the threat. Attackers who successfully compromise a privileged process can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive application data, potentially including personal information, credentials, or other confidential data stored by other applications on the device. The impact extends beyond individual application data breaches to potentially enable broader system compromise through information gathering and reconnaissance activities.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense to mitigate this vulnerability, starting with ensuring timely patch deployment for Android 7.0 devices and monitoring for suspicious package management activities. The mitigation strategies should include regular security updates, application sandbox monitoring, and privileged process access controls. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves the use of command and scripting interpreters for execution. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can detect anomalous package manager behaviors and enforce stricter access controls on privileged processes. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in core system components can create significant security risks when exploited by determined attackers.