CVE-2017-0328 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the NVIDIA crypto 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: Kernel 3.10. Android ID: A-33898322. References: N-CVE-2017-0328.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0328 represents a significant information disclosure weakness within the NVIDIA crypto driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.10. This flaw resides in the cryptographic subsystem that manages secure operations and data protection mechanisms, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that bypasses normal permission boundaries. The issue specifically affects devices utilizing NVIDIA's hardware security modules where the crypto driver fails to properly enforce access controls, allowing malicious applications to potentially read sensitive data beyond their intended authorization levels.
This technical vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the NVIDIA crypto driver implementation. The flaw manifests when the driver processes cryptographic operations without sufficient boundary checking, enabling a local attacker with a compromised privileged process to exploit a privilege escalation vector. The vulnerability is classified as Moderate severity because it requires an initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with the principle of least privilege and suggests that the attack surface is somewhat limited compared to fully local privilege escalation flaws. However, the potential impact remains significant given that once the initial compromise occurs, the attacker can leverage this weakness to access data that should normally be protected from unauthorized access.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0328 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it could enable attackers to access cryptographic keys, secure session data, or other sensitive information that would normally be protected by the system's security model. This information disclosure capability creates opportunities for further attacks, including potential credential theft, encryption key compromise, or access to confidential communications that have been processed through the affected crypto driver. The vulnerability affects Android devices where NVIDIA's hardware security module is integrated, making it particularly concerning for mobile devices that rely on hardware-based encryption for data protection and secure communications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and operational security improvements. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the appropriate kernel updates and driver patches that address the specific memory access control issues within the NVIDIA crypto driver. Additionally, implementing proper process isolation, monitoring for unauthorized access attempts, and maintaining up-to-date security configurations can help reduce the risk of exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Disclosure) and potentially CWE-264 (Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls) categories, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual patterns of data access that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where mobile device security is paramount.