CVE-2017-0337 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the NVIDIA 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-3.18. Android ID: A-31992762. References: N-CVE-2017-0337.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0337 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within NVIDIA GPU drivers running on Android devices with kernel version 3.18. This weakness allows a locally malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, effectively bypassing the security boundaries that normally protect the operating system from unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the GPU driver component, creating a pathway for privilege escalation that could result in complete system compromise.
This security flaw operates at the intersection of hardware and software security boundaries, where the GPU driver's kernel module fails to properly validate user-supplied data before processing it. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20, which represents "Improper Input Validation," and specifically manifests as a privilege escalation vector that can be exploited through local means. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious applications that interact with the GPU driver, potentially through graphics rendering APIs or direct memory access operations, to gain kernel-level privileges and execute arbitrary code with the highest system permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0337 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent threat that can lead to complete device compromise. Once exploited, the malicious application can maintain persistence within the kernel space, making detection and removal extremely difficult. The vulnerability's critical rating reflects the potential for permanent device damage that may require complete system reinstallation or even hardware reflashing to resolve. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may not have the technical capability to perform system recovery operations, and where the device's functionality is entirely dependent on the compromised GPU driver components.
The threat landscape for this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and specifically demonstrates how GPU driver flaws can be weaponized for kernel-level attacks. The exploitation requires local access to the device, making it particularly concerning for environments where applications with legitimate GPU access might be compromised or where users might unknowingly install malicious software. Mitigation strategies should include immediate driver updates from NVIDIA, implementation of application sandboxing measures, and monitoring for suspicious GPU driver interactions that could indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing device integrity checks and regular security audits to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all devices remain protected against this and similar vulnerabilities.