CVE-2016-8420 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm Wi-Fi 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, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32451171. References: QC-CR#1087807.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8420 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems. This security weakness exists in kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a fundamental system component that handles wireless connectivity operations. The vulnerability allows a local malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that protect the operating system from unauthorized access. The issue is classified as High severity due to the requirement of first compromising a privileged process, which significantly reduces the attack surface but still leaves systems vulnerable to determined adversaries.
The technical flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver implementation. When the driver processes certain Wi-Fi related commands or data structures, it fails to properly validate the integrity of input parameters, creating opportunities for buffer overflows or memory corruption attacks. This vulnerability specifically impacts the kernel-level driver that manages wireless network interfaces, where malicious code can exploit memory handling inconsistencies to gain unauthorized access to kernel memory spaces. The flaw operates at the intersection of wireless networking protocols and kernel security mechanisms, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges available. Once exploited, the malicious application can manipulate kernel memory, modify system files, install rootkits, or completely compromise the device's security posture. This capability fundamentally undermines the Android security model, which relies on proper privilege separation between user applications and system-level processes. The vulnerability affects all Android devices running the impacted kernel versions, creating widespread exposure across numerous device models and manufacturers that utilize Qualcomm's Wi-Fi chipsets. The attack vector requires local access to the device, meaning the malicious application must first gain some level of user-level access, but once achieved, the privilege escalation becomes complete and irreversible.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8420 focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Device manufacturers and system administrators should prioritize applying the relevant security patches provided by Qualcomm and Android security teams, which typically involve updating the kernel components and Wi-Fi driver implementations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should implement additional security controls such as application sandboxing, monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities, and regular security assessments of device components. The patching process requires careful coordination as kernel updates can potentially impact device stability and compatibility with existing applications. Network administrators should also consider implementing device access controls and monitoring for anomalous Wi-Fi related system calls that might indicate exploitation attempts.