CVE-2016-8409 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the NVIDIA 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. Android ID: A-31495687. References: N-CVE-2016-8409.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/20/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8409 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within NVIDIA video drivers running on Android devices with kernel version 3.10. This weakness allows a local malicious application to potentially access data beyond its intended permission boundaries, creating a significant security risk for mobile device users. The vulnerability specifically affects the graphics processing unit driver component that manages hardware acceleration for visual rendering tasks on Android smartphones and tablets.
Technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first compromise a privileged process within the Android operating system, which serves as a prerequisite for achieving the information disclosure effect. The flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the NVIDIA graphics driver implementation, where proper boundary checking fails to prevent unauthorized data access patterns. This issue manifests when applications attempt to interact with graphics memory regions that should be restricted to system-level processes or specific privileged components. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, leveraging the graphics driver's interaction with memory management subsystems to bypass standard Android permission models.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8409 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential pathways for privilege escalation and lateral movement within the device's security architecture. Attackers could potentially extract sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or confidential application data stored in memory regions that should remain protected. This vulnerability particularly affects devices running Android with kernel 3.10 and is classified as moderate severity due to the requirement of prior privilege compromise, but the potential for escalation makes it a serious concern for mobile security. The Android ID A-31495687 indicates this issue was tracked within Google's internal vulnerability management system, highlighting its significance in the mobile ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on system updates and driver patching, requiring device manufacturers to deploy updated NVIDIA graphics drivers that address the access control flaws. Users should ensure their devices receive timely security updates from manufacturers and carriers, as the vulnerability cannot be fully resolved without proper driver patches. The implementation of additional security controls such as kernel address space layout randomization and enhanced memory protection mechanisms can provide supplementary defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious application behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and implement device management policies that enforce secure configuration practices. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a specific instance of how graphics driver components can create security gaps in mobile operating environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the graphics processing unit as a potential attack vector for information gathering and system compromise.