CVE-2016-8470 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the MediaTek 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: N/A. Android ID: A-31528889. References: MT-ALPS02961395.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8470 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within MediaTek driver components that operate within the Android ecosystem. This weakness specifically affects the privilege escalation mechanisms within the device driver architecture, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that extends beyond normal application permission boundaries. The vulnerability resides in the MediaTek driver implementation which serves as a critical bridge between hardware components and the Android operating system, making it a prime target for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to bypass standard security controls. The issue manifests when a local malicious application attempts to access memory regions or data structures that should normally be restricted to higher privilege levels.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate access control mechanisms within the MediaTek driver code, where proper validation of privilege levels fails to prevent unauthorized data access attempts. This allows a compromised application to potentially read sensitive information from memory locations that contain data belonging to other processes or system components. The vulnerability is classified as a local information disclosure issue because it requires an initial compromise of a privileged process to achieve the full exploitation potential, yet once achieved it can provide access to data that should remain protected. The flaw demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices and highlights the importance of proper privilege separation in driver-level code.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious security concern for Android devices that utilize MediaTek chipsets, as it enables attackers to potentially extract sensitive data including user credentials, personal information, or confidential system data. The moderate severity rating reflects the requirement for initial privilege compromise, but this does not diminish the potential damage that can be inflicted once the vulnerability is successfully exploited. The attack vector involves a local malicious application that has already gained some level of system access, making it particularly concerning for devices where such applications might be installed by users without proper security screening. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and can undermine the overall security posture of affected Android devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-8470 should focus on implementing proper privilege validation within driver code and ensuring that all memory access operations include appropriate access control checks. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize updating MediaTek driver components to versions that address the privilege escalation weakness. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software systems, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege as defined in cybersecurity best practices. Additionally, this issue relates to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and demonstrates how driver-level vulnerabilities can be leveraged to bypass system security controls. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure that MediaTek driver updates are applied promptly, and consider additional monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.