CVE-2017-0326 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the NVIDIA Video Driver due to an out-of-bounds read function in the Tegra Display Controller driver could result in possible information disclosure. This issue is rated as Moderate. Product: Android. Version: N/A. Android ID: A-33718700. References: N-CVE-2017-0326.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0326 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within NVIDIA's video driver implementation specifically affecting Android devices. This issue stems from an out-of-bounds read operation within the Tegra Display Controller driver component, which operates as part of the broader graphics subsystem responsible for managing display outputs on mobile devices. The vulnerability manifests when the driver processes certain display-related operations, creating an opportunity for unauthorized data exposure through memory access violations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program accesses memory beyond the boundaries of a valid buffer or array. The flaw occurs within the Tegra Display Controller driver's function handling, where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious code or compromised applications to trigger memory reads that extend beyond allocated memory regions. This particular implementation issue affects how the driver manages display controller registers and associated data structures during graphic rendering operations, potentially exposing sensitive kernel memory contents to user-space applications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant security risks to Android devices utilizing NVIDIA Tegra chipsets, particularly those running versions prior to the patched releases. The information disclosure could potentially reveal kernel memory addresses, sensitive configuration data, or other confidential information that might aid attackers in developing more sophisticated exploitation techniques. The moderate severity rating reflects the limited scope of the disclosure, as the vulnerability does not directly enable arbitrary code execution or complete system compromise, but rather provides attackers with additional information that could be leveraged in combination with other exploits.
The impact extends beyond simple information exposure, as this vulnerability could facilitate advanced persistent threat campaigns by providing attackers with insights into kernel memory layouts and driver implementation details. Security researchers have noted that such information disclosure vulnerabilities often serve as stepping stones for more serious attacks, as they can be used to bypass security mitigations or to craft more targeted exploitation payloads. The vulnerability's presence in Android devices means that end users may unknowingly expose their systems to potential exploitation, particularly when running untrusted applications or when applications are compromised through other attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google and NVIDIA, which typically include updated driver components with proper bounds checking implementations. System administrators should also implement application whitelisting and monitoring to detect suspicious memory access patterns, while security teams should consider the broader context of this vulnerability within their threat models. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as potential exploitation techniques, making it important for organizations to maintain comprehensive endpoint protection and monitoring capabilities to detect and respond to related threats.