CVE-2016-8446 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in MediaTek components, including the thermal driver and video 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: N/A. Android ID: A-31747749. References: MT-ALPS02968909.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8446 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within MediaTek mobile platform components that affects Android devices. This security weakness specifically targets the thermal driver and video driver implementations within MediaTek chipsets, creating a pathway for malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with kernel-level permissions. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for an attacker to first compromise a privileged process, which significantly reduces the attack surface but still maintains severe implications for device security. The issue manifests through MediaTek's proprietary driver implementations that handle critical hardware functions including thermal management and video processing capabilities.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation and memory handling within the kernel-level drivers. When a malicious application attempts to interact with these drivers, it can manipulate the driver's behavior to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This flaw typically involves buffer overflow conditions or improper access control mechanisms that allow user-space applications to bypass normal kernel security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects the thermal management system which monitors and controls device temperature, and the video driver responsible for graphics processing, both of which require kernel-level access to function properly. The exploitation process involves crafting malicious inputs that trigger the vulnerable code paths within these drivers, ultimately allowing privilege escalation from user mode to kernel mode execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full device compromise and data exposure. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they gain complete control over the device's hardware and software environment, enabling them to access all stored data, modify system files, install persistent backdoors, and potentially extract sensitive information from the device. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android devices that utilize MediaTek chipsets, particularly those running Android versions where the affected drivers were implemented. The threat landscape is further complicated by the fact that many of these devices are deployed in enterprise environments where they may handle sensitive corporate data, making the potential impact of exploitation significantly more severe.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8446 primarily focus on patch management and system hardening approaches. Device manufacturers must implement timely security updates that address the specific driver vulnerabilities within MediaTek chipsets, particularly those affecting the thermal and video driver components. System administrators should ensure that all Android devices within their environment receive security patches promptly, as the vulnerability requires minimal attack surface to exploit. The mitigation approach aligns with industry standards such as those outlined in CWE-119 which addresses memory safety issues in kernel drivers, and follows ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and kernel exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as application whitelisting, runtime application protection, and network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify devices running affected MediaTek components and ensure proper patch deployment across all managed devices.