CVE-2016-8453 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Broadcom 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. Android ID: A-24739315. References: B-RB#73392.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8453 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.10. This issue resides in the kernel-level driver implementation that manages wireless network connectivity, creating a pathway for malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with the highest system permissions. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for initial compromise of a privileged process, which significantly reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the serious implications for system security. The Android ID A-24739315 and reference B-RB#73392 provide additional context for tracking and mitigation efforts within the Android security framework.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and memory management within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver's kernel module. When a malicious application attempts to exploit this weakness, it can manipulate driver interfaces to gain unauthorized access to kernel memory regions and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This flaw typically manifests through buffer overflow conditions or improper access control mechanisms that allow user-space processes to influence kernel execution paths. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-119 Improper Access to Memory and CWE-20 Improper Input Validation, where insufficient validation of input parameters leads to memory corruption and privilege escalation. The kernel 3.10 version's implementation of the Wi-Fi driver contains specific code paths that fail to properly enforce privilege boundaries, allowing malicious code to traverse the kernel-user space interface.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8453 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can enable attackers to gain complete system control, access sensitive data, modify system configurations, and potentially install persistent backdoors. Once a malicious application achieves kernel-level execution, it can bypass all standard Android security controls including SELinux policies, application sandboxing, and permission models. This vulnerability affects all Android devices utilizing the affected Broadcom Wi-Fi driver implementation, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of Broadcom chipsets in mobile devices. The attack vector requires a local malicious application that has already gained some level of system access, which could occur through various means including phishing attacks, malicious app downloads, or exploitation of other vulnerabilities in the Android ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. The primary solution involves applying the official Android security patches that address the specific driver implementation flaw in kernel 3.10. Organizations should prioritize updating affected devices to versions containing the patched Broadcom Wi-Fi driver components, with particular attention to ensuring complete driver replacement rather than partial updates. Additionally, implementing runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization kASLR and stack canaries can help mitigate exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual kernel execution patterns and unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1068 Valid Accounts and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation requires initial access and leverages kernel-level execution capabilities. The vulnerability also demonstrates characteristics of T1055 Process Injection, where malicious code can be injected into privileged processes to achieve kernel execution. Network administrators should also consider implementing device enrollment and management solutions that can automatically deploy security patches and monitor for exploitation indicators.