CVE-2017-0385 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Audioserver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. This issue is rated as High because it could be used to gain local access to elevated capabilities, which are not normally accessible to a third-party application. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1. Android ID: A-32585400.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0385 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android Audioserver component, which serves as the central audio management daemon responsible for handling audio processing and device interactions. This vulnerability resides in the Android operating system's audio subsystem and affects multiple versions including Android 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The issue stems from improper input validation and access control mechanisms within the Audioserver daemon that processes audio-related requests from applications, creating a pathway for local malicious actors to exploit the system's privilege boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a local malicious application successfully manipulates the Audioserver's processing of audio commands or data structures, allowing it to escalate its privileges and execute code within the context of the privileged Audioserver process. This flaw typically involves memory corruption issues such as buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that can be triggered through crafted audio parameters or malformed audio data passed to the system. The vulnerability's classification as High severity indicates that it provides attackers with direct access to elevated system capabilities that are normally restricted to system-level processes, effectively bypassing Android's application sandboxing mechanisms. The underlying cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-264, which covers permissions, privileges, and access control issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0385 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with a persistent foothold within the Android system that can be leveraged for further exploitation. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application can access sensitive system resources, modify audio configurations, intercept audio data, and potentially gain access to other system components that were previously protected. This vulnerability creates a significant risk for users who may unknowingly install malicious applications or who are targeted by sophisticated attacks that exploit this flaw. The attack vector requires local access to the device, meaning that the malicious application must already be installed or somehow executed on the target system, but once exploited, it provides an immediate path to system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security enhancements. Android security patches released by Google address this specific flaw through code modifications that improve input validation and access control within the Audioserver component, ensuring proper memory management and privilege enforcement. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying these security updates as soon as possible, particularly for devices that handle sensitive data or operate in high-security environments. Additionally, users should maintain awareness of the importance of only installing applications from trusted sources and regularly updating their devices to protect against known vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementations and proper code review processes that can prevent similar issues in future software development cycles, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous audio processing behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining proper system hardening practices to minimize the attack surface.