CVE-2017-0396 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in visualizer/EffectVisualizer.cpp in libeffects in Mediaserver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it could be used to access sensitive data without permission. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1. Android ID: A-31781965.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0396 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android mediaserver component that affects multiple versions of the operating system. This security weakness resides in the visualizer/EffectVisualizer.cpp file within the libeffects library, which is part of the Android media framework responsible for audio processing and visualization capabilities. The flaw enables local malicious applications to bypass normal permission boundaries and access data that should be restricted to authorized processes only, creating a significant escalation of privileges scenario.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the EffectVisualizer component. When processing audio effects and visualizations, the system fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory access patterns, allowing crafted malicious applications to manipulate the visualizer's internal state and potentially read memory locations outside the intended scope. This issue falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program accesses memory beyond the bounds of a buffer. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of improper access control mechanisms and inadequate memory protection boundaries.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for Android devices as it allows local applications to access sensitive data that may include user credentials, personal information, or proprietary application data. The moderate severity rating reflects the fact that exploitation requires local access to the device, but once achieved, the impact can be significant as attackers can potentially extract confidential information without requiring network connectivity or additional attack vectors. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1, indicating a widespread exposure across multiple generations of the Android platform. This exposure creates opportunities for attackers to compromise user privacy and data integrity through local privilege escalation techniques.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0396 primarily involve applying the relevant security patches provided by Google through the Android security bulletin. Organizations and users should prioritize updating their Android devices to versions that contain the fix for this vulnerability. Additionally, system administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to limit the execution of potentially malicious applications on affected devices. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes 'Local Privilege Escalation' and represents a classic example of how information disclosure vulnerabilities can be leveraged to achieve unauthorized access to system resources. Network security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing behavioral analytics to detect unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix typically involves strengthening buffer boundary checks and implementing proper access control mechanisms within the mediaserver component to prevent unauthorized memory access.