CVE-2017-0394 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in Telephony could enable a remote attacker to cause a device hang or reboot. This issue is rated as High due to the possibility of remote denial of service. Product: Android. Versions: 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1. Android ID: A-31752213.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0394 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android telephony subsystem that poses significant operational risks to mobile devices. This weakness specifically affects Android versions 5.0.2 through 7.1, encompassing a broad range of devices that were widely deployed in enterprise and consumer environments. The vulnerability resides in the telephony service component responsible for managing cellular connections and voice communication functions, making it a prime target for malicious actors seeking to disrupt device functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the telephony service handling mechanisms. When a specially crafted malicious telephony message is received by the affected Android devices, the system fails to properly process the malformed data, leading to a complete system hang or unexpected reboot. This occurs because the telephony service lacks adequate bounds checking and error handling procedures that would normally prevent malformed data from causing system-level failures. The flaw operates at the system level rather than application level, meaning it can affect all telephony-related functions including incoming calls, outgoing calls, SMS messaging, and cellular data connections.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for both individual users and enterprise environments where mobile device reliability is critical. The remote exploitation capability means attackers can trigger the denial of service condition without physical access to the device, potentially affecting users in public spaces or during critical business operations. In enterprise settings, this could lead to communication disruptions that impact productivity and emergency response capabilities. The high severity rating reflects the potential for widespread impact across multiple device models and manufacturers, as this vulnerability affects the core telephony service that is fundamental to all mobile device functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-248 Uncaught Exception categories, representing a classic case where insufficient validation leads to system instability. From an attack framework perspective, this flaw maps to the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it leverages standard telephony protocols that are always active on mobile devices, making exploitation relatively simple and reliable. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the relevant Android security patches, monitoring for unusual telephony-related system behavior, and potentially implementing network-level controls to filter suspicious telephony messages.
The broader implications extend beyond immediate device functionality, as this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust input validation in system-level services. Mobile device manufacturers and carriers must ensure comprehensive testing of telephony services under various threat conditions. The vulnerability also highlights the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid patch deployment processes, as the affected versions span multiple major Android releases. Security teams should consider implementing device monitoring solutions that can detect and alert on telephony service anomalies that may indicate exploitation attempts. The remediation approach requires careful consideration of the patch deployment timeline, as the vulnerability affects such a large user base that coordinated patching efforts are essential to prevent widespread disruption while maintaining security posture.