CVE-2016-8416 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm 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-3.18. Android ID: A-32510746. References: QC-CR#1088206.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8416 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm video driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.18. This weakness resides in the privileged driver layer that handles video processing operations, creating an avenue for malicious applications to potentially access sensitive data beyond their normal permission boundaries. The issue manifests as an improper access control mechanism that fails to properly enforce security boundaries between different privilege levels within the video processing subsystem. The vulnerability specifically affects the Qualcomm Adreno GPU driver implementation which is widely deployed across Android devices, making it a critical concern for mobile security.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the video driver's kernel space implementation. When a malicious application attempts to interact with video processing functions, the driver fails to properly validate the data access requests and does not adequately enforce the separation between user-space applications and kernel-space privileged operations. This creates a scenario where a local attacker can leverage specific video processing APIs to read memory locations that should normally be restricted to privileged system processes. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level and requires a pre-existing compromise of a privileged process to achieve full exploitation, which aligns with the moderate severity rating. According to CWE classification, this corresponds to CWE-284: Improper Access Control, specifically within the context of kernel drivers and privileged operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides a potential pathway for privilege escalation attacks. While the vulnerability requires initial compromise of a privileged process, once achieved, it enables attackers to access sensitive data that may include system credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information stored in memory regions normally protected by the kernel security model. Mobile devices running affected Android versions become vulnerable to sophisticated attacks where malware can gradually escalate privileges and access increasingly sensitive data. The attack vector primarily involves local execution on the device, making it particularly concerning for enterprise environments where mobile devices may contain corporate data or for users who install untrusted applications. This vulnerability directly impacts the Android security model's integrity by undermining the isolation between different security domains within the kernel space.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8416 focus primarily on timely patching and system updates from device manufacturers and Google. Users should ensure their devices receive the latest security updates, particularly those addressing kernel-level vulnerabilities in Qualcomm drivers. System administrators should implement strict application vetting processes and monitor for suspicious behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation indicates that defenders should monitor for unusual kernel-level memory access patterns and API calls that might suggest exploitation attempts. Additionally, device manufacturers should implement enhanced kernel hardening measures, including stack canaries, memory protection mechanisms, and improved input validation for driver interfaces. Organizations should consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically apply security patches and monitor for known vulnerable components within their device fleet. The underlying issue highlights the importance of secure driver development practices and proper privilege separation in kernel modules, particularly those handling multimedia processing functions that require extensive system-level access.