CVE-2017-0398 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in Audioserver 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 IDs: A-32438594, A-32635664.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/13/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0398 resides within the Android audioserver component, representing a critical information disclosure flaw that undermines the system's permission model. This issue affects multiple 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 impact across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the audioserver daemon, which processes audio-related system calls and manages audio resources across different application contexts.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a local malicious application that can leverage improper privilege escalation mechanisms to access data beyond its designated permission boundaries. This flaw allows unauthorized data access by bypassing the standard Android security model that typically restricts applications to their own sandboxed environment. The audioserver component, which handles audio input/output operations and manages audio session data, contains a flaw that permits unauthorized access to audio-related information that should remain protected. According to CWE-284, this vulnerability maps to improper access control issues where the system fails to properly enforce access restrictions, and the flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local privileges to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0398 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables potential attackers to access sensitive audio data, including audio recordings, session information, and potentially other system audio-related metadata that could reveal user behavior patterns or personal information. The moderate severity rating reflects the vulnerability's ability to provide unauthorized access without requiring network connectivity or complex exploitation techniques, making it particularly dangerous in environments where local applications may be compromised. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to gather audio context information, access audio processing parameters, or extract audio session data that could be used for further exploitation or reconnaissance activities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing proper privilege separation within the audioserver component and ensuring that all audio-related system calls properly validate access permissions. Android security patches addressing this issue typically involve strengthening the access control mechanisms within the audio subsystem to prevent unauthorized data access. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the relevant security updates that address this specific flaw, as the vulnerability could be exploited by malicious applications already present on the device. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that audio session data remains properly isolated and that the audioserver component properly enforces the Android permission model. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual audio-related system calls that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly focusing on access patterns that deviate from normal application behavior.