CVE-2017-0386 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the libnl library 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: 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1. Android ID: A-32255299.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0386 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the libnl library component of Android operating systems. This issue affects multiple Android versions including 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 vulnerability stems from improper handling of network configuration operations within the libnl library, which is responsible for network link management and configuration tasks in the Linux kernel environment that Android builds upon.
The technical flaw manifests as a privilege escalation mechanism that allows a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. This occurs due to insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the libnl library implementation. When a malicious application attempts to manipulate network interfaces or configuration parameters, the library fails to properly verify the privileges of the calling process, enabling unauthorized code execution in a privileged context. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges, and represents a classic example of a privilege escalation attack vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides local attackers with the ability to gain elevated system capabilities that are typically restricted to system-level processes. Once exploited, the malicious application can perform actions such as modifying system network configurations, accessing restricted files, or executing commands with root privileges. This creates a significant security risk for Android devices since it allows attackers who have already compromised a user-level application to escalate their privileges and potentially gain complete system control. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special permissions beyond those normally granted to third-party applications, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking persistent system access.
The threat landscape surrounding this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter'. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, modify system integrity checks, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the device. The Android ID A-32255299 indicates that this vulnerability was specifically identified and tracked by Google's security team, highlighting its significance in the Android security model. Organizations and users must consider implementing additional security measures beyond the standard Android security model, including regular system updates, application sandboxing, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices in system libraries and the need for comprehensive security testing of core components that handle privileged operations.