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CVE-2016-8419 Linux CVE debrief

CVE-2016-8419 is a high-severity elevation-of-privilege issue affecting Android systems with the Qualcomm Wi‑Fi driver. According to the CVE description and Android security bulletin reference, a local malicious application could execute arbitrary code in the kernel context, but the issue is not a simple one-step local bug: the rating notes that exploitation first requires compromising a privileged process. For defenders, the practical concern is kernel-level impact on affected Android devices and Linux kernel 3.10/3.18 builds identified in the source record.

Vendor
Linux
Product
CVE-2016-8419
CVSS
HIGH 7
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2017-02-08
Original CVE updated
2026-05-13
Advisory published
2017-02-08
Advisory updated
2026-05-13

Who should care

Android OEMs, device maintainers, kernel and platform security teams, and fleet administrators responsible for devices running affected Android releases or kernels 3.10/3.18 should prioritize this issue.

Technical summary

The source record describes an elevation-of-privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm Wi‑Fi driver. The CVSS vector supplied by NVD is AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, indicating local attack requirements, high complexity, and user interaction. The CVE text states that a local malicious application could execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, and that exploitation first requires compromising a privileged process. NVD maps the affected Android range to versions up to 7.1.1 and also lists Linux kernel 3.10 and 3.18 as vulnerable CPEs.

Defensive priority

High. Kernel-context compromise is a severe outcome even when exploitation is constrained by high complexity and prerequisite privilege compromise.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Review the Android security bulletin referenced for this CVE and apply the vendor-provided fix or firmware update for affected devices.
  • Confirm whether any deployed Android devices or products use the affected Qualcomm Wi‑Fi driver path or the listed kernel versions 3.10 or 3.18.
  • Prioritize patching devices exposed to untrusted local code execution scenarios, especially managed fleets where user-installed applications are permitted.
  • Validate remediation by checking vendor build numbers and confirming that the affected Android release range (up to 7.1.1 in the NVD record) is no longer present.
  • Monitor for indicators of abnormal kernel crashes or Wi‑Fi driver instability on susceptible devices during rollout.

Evidence notes

Primary evidence comes from the NVD record for CVE-2016-8419, which lists the vulnerability as an Android/Qualcomm Wi‑Fi driver privilege escalation and includes the CVSS 3.0 vector AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. The supplied record also references the Android security bulletin published at https://source.android.com/security/bulletin/2017-02-01.html, plus third-party advisories for corroboration. Published date used here is 2017-02-08T15:59:00.393Z from the source corpus.

Official resources

CVE published by the source corpus on 2017-02-08. The supplied record cites the Android security bulletin dated 2017-02-01 as the vendor advisory reference.