CVE-2016-8479 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm GPU driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as Critical due to the possibility of a local permanent device compromise, which may require reflashing the operating system to repair the device. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-31824853. References: QC-CR#1093687.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8479 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm GPU driver component of Android operating systems. This vulnerability exists within kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these kernel versions across various Android devices. The flaw allows a locally malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions, effectively bypassing the security boundaries that normally protect the operating system from unauthorized access. This type of vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and represents a fundamental breakdown in the Android security model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the Qualcomm GPU driver implementation. When a malicious application attempts to interact with GPU resources through the driver interface, it can manipulate kernel memory structures or bypass access controls through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption vulnerabilities. The attacker does not require physical access or specialized hardware to exploit this flaw, as the malicious application already exists within the device's trusted execution environment. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through normal application installation and execution processes, without requiring additional attack vectors or user interaction beyond the initial compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-8479 is severe and potentially permanent, as the vulnerability enables attackers to gain complete control over the device's kernel execution environment. Once exploited, the malicious code can modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access all device data, and potentially compromise the device's bootloader or firmware. The fact that this vulnerability could require a full operating system reflash to remediate indicates the depth of compromise possible, as the attacker can essentially rewrite the fundamental components that govern device operation. This type of persistent compromise aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of local privilege escalation to gain system-level access, and reflects the critical nature of kernel-level vulnerabilities as defined by CWE-248.
Organizations and device manufacturers should implement immediate mitigations including applying security patches from Qualcomm and Android, disabling unnecessary GPU functionality where possible, and implementing application sandboxing measures to limit the potential impact of compromised applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of driver security in mobile platforms and highlights why the Common Vulnerability Scoring System assigns critical ratings to kernel-level privilege escalation flaws. Device security teams should also consider implementing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous kernel behavior and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing kernel-level compromises. This vulnerability serves as a stark reminder of the need for comprehensive security testing of all device drivers and the potential consequences of inadequate security controls in system-level components.