CVE-2016-3861

HIGH

Android <4.4.4, <5.0.2, <5.1.1, <2016-09-01 - RCE

Title source: llm
STIX 2.1

Exploitation Summary

EIP tracks 2 public exploits for CVE-2016-3861. PoCs published by Google Security Research, kswzzl.

AI-analyzed exploit summary This exploit demonstrates a heap-buffer-overflow in Android's libutils library due to inconsistent handling of invalid surrogate pairs in UTF16 conversion functions. The PoC triggers the vulnerability via the 'android.security.keystore' service, leading to a crash or potential code execution.

Description

LibUtils in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, 6.x before 2016-09-01, and 7.0 before 2016-09-01 mishandles conversions between Unicode character encodings with different encoding widths, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer overflow) via a crafted file, aka internal bug 29250543.

Exploits (2)

exploitdb WORKING POC VERIFIED
by Google Security Research · textremoteandroid
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40354

This exploit demonstrates a heap-buffer-overflow in Android's libutils library due to inconsistent handling of invalid surrogate pairs in UTF16 conversion functions. The PoC triggers the vulnerability via the 'android.security.keystore' service, leading to a crash or potential code execution.

Classification
Working Poc 100%
Attack Type
Dos
Complexity
Moderate
Reliability
Reliable
Target: Android libutils (versions affected by CVE-2016-3861)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Access to an affected Android device or emulator · Ability to send crafted input to the keystore service
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 16, 2026 Full analysis →
nomisec WORKING POC 1 stars
by kswzzl · poc
https://github.com/kswzzl/CVE-2016-3861

This repository contains a functional exploit for CVE-2016-3861, a vulnerability in Android's libutils library. The exploit dynamically generates MP4 files in the browser to achieve PC control, with additional heap grooming for specific AOSP builds.

Classification
Working Poc 90%
Attack Type
Rce
Complexity
Complex
Reliability
Racy
Target: Android libutils (AOSP builds 5-6)
No auth needed
Prerequisites: Target device running vulnerable AOSP build · Browser access to exploit delivery mechanism
devstral-2 · analyzed Feb 18, 2026 Full analysis →

References (8)

Core 8
Core References
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_sectrack
http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1036763
Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry vdb-entry x_refsource_bid
http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92811
Exploit, Third Party Advisory exploit x_refsource_exploit-db
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40354/

Scores

CVSS v3 7.8
EPSS 0.1117
EPSS Percentile 95.4%
Attack Vector LOCAL
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Details

CWE
CWE-119 CWE-264
Status published
Products (23)
google/android 4.0
google/android 4.0.1
google/android 4.0.2
google/android 4.0.3
google/android 4.0.4
google/android 4.1
google/android 4.1.2
google/android 4.2
google/android 4.2.1
google/android 4.2.2
... and 13 more
Published Sep 11, 2016
Tracked Since Feb 18, 2026