CVE-2016-6778 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the HTC sound codec driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10. Android ID: A-31384646.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6778 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the HTC sound codec driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.10. This security weakness resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for handling audio codec operations, specifically affecting HTC devices that incorporate this particular driver implementation. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for an attacker to first compromise a privileged process before exploiting the underlying flaw, which significantly increases the attack surface complexity but does not eliminate the serious implications for system security.
The technical flaw manifests in the sound codec driver's improper handling of input data structures and memory management during audio processing operations. When a malicious application attempts to exploit this vulnerability, it can manipulate the driver's behavior to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries that separate user-space applications from the privileged kernel environment. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-119 which describes "Improper Access to Memory Location" and represents a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that allows for privilege escalation. The attack vector specifically targets the driver's input validation mechanisms, where insufficient bounds checking or improper memory handling allows crafted audio data to overwrite critical kernel memory areas.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete control over the device's kernel operations. This means that once an attacker has compromised a privileged process, they can leverage the kernel-level access to modify system files, disable security features, install persistent backdoors, or extract sensitive user data. The attack requires an initial foothold through a compromised privileged process, which aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques where adversaries first gain access to a system and then elevate their privileges to achieve full system control. This vulnerability particularly affects HTC devices running Android versions that utilize the vulnerable kernel 3.10 implementation, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams managing mobile device fleets.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6778 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Android security updates released after the vulnerability disclosure would contain fixes for the sound codec driver implementation, requiring organizations to deploy these patches promptly across all affected HTC devices. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious audio processing activities and ensure that only trusted applications can access privileged audio driver interfaces. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper kernel driver security practices and input validation, aligning with security best practices outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework for protecting critical system components. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and prevent unauthorized applications from accessing sensitive system resources, particularly those that could be exploited for kernel-level privilege escalation.