CVE-2016-8410 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm sound 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-31498403. References: QC-CR#987010.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8410 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Qualcomm's sound driver implementation on Android devices. This issue resides in the kernel-level audio subsystem and specifically affects Android versions utilizing kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18. The vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the audio driver that fail to adequately enforce permission boundaries, allowing unauthorized data access through privilege escalation pathways. The flaw is classified as moderate severity because it requires initial compromise of a privileged process to achieve full exploitation, though this prerequisite does not diminish its potential impact on system security. The Android ID A-31498403 indicates this vulnerability was tracked within Google's internal vulnerability management system, while the reference QC-CR#987010 points to Qualcomm's internal tracking mechanism for this specific issue.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the Qualcomm audio driver's kernel module where insufficient validation exists for memory access requests. When a local malicious application attempts to access audio driver resources, the system fails to properly verify whether the requesting process has appropriate permissions to access the targeted memory regions. This weakness creates a path where an attacker can manipulate the audio driver interface to read data from memory locations that should be restricted to higher-privilege processes. The flaw manifests when the driver does not properly implement kernel memory protection mechanisms, allowing arbitrary memory reads through crafted ioctl commands or direct memory access attempts. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which defines information exposure vulnerabilities where insufficient protection mechanisms allow unauthorized access to sensitive data. The implementation bypasses standard kernel security controls such as capability checks and access control lists, creating a window for data leakage from protected memory segments.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8410 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable attackers to extract sensitive system information, user data, or even cryptographic keys stored in memory. While the vulnerability requires initial compromise of a privileged process, this prerequisite is often achievable through other attack vectors such as application sandbox escapes or privilege escalation exploits. Once the attacker gains access to the audio driver interface, they can potentially extract configuration data, user credentials, or other sensitive information from memory regions that should remain protected. The vulnerability affects a fundamental system component that handles audio processing, making it a persistent threat across various Android devices. The kernel version dependency means that devices running Android with kernel 3.10 or 3.18 are particularly vulnerable, though the exact impact varies based on device-specific implementations and additional security mitigations. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 where adversaries use system interfaces to execute malicious code, and T1003 which involves credential access through memory manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8410 require a multi-layered approach focusing on both immediate patching and ongoing security monitoring. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant security patches provided by Qualcomm and Android security teams, which typically involve updating the audio driver kernel module with proper access control checks. The patching process requires careful deployment to avoid disrupting audio functionality while ensuring memory protection mechanisms are properly enforced. System administrators should also implement additional monitoring for unusual audio driver access patterns and unauthorized memory reads through system call monitoring tools. Device manufacturers should consider implementing kernel memory protection enhancements such as stack canaries, kernel address space layout randomization, and enhanced access control enforcement. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel security hardening and proper input validation in system drivers, as outlined in the CWE-200 standard for information exposure. Regular security audits of kernel modules and driver implementations should be conducted to identify similar access control weaknesses that could be exploited in similar fashion, particularly focusing on privilege escalation pathways within core system components.