CVE-2017-0404 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the kernel sound subsystem could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32510733.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0404 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android kernel sound subsystem that enables local attackers to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This vulnerability resides in the Linux kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18 which are integral components of the Android operating system, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these kernel versions across various Android devices. The issue stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the audio subsystem's kernel drivers, creating a pathway for privilege escalation that can be exploited by malicious applications with limited user-level access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific flaw in how the kernel sound subsystem handles audio buffer operations and memory management. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious audio input that triggers a buffer overflow or memory corruption within kernel space. The vulnerability specifically affects the sound subsystem's ability to properly validate and process audio data structures, allowing an attacker to manipulate kernel memory layout and potentially overwrite critical kernel data structures or function pointers. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities that can lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0404 is significant as it enables local privilege escalation from user-level processes to kernel-level execution, bypassing Android's security model that typically isolates user applications from system-level operations. Once exploited, the malicious application gains complete control over the device, allowing for persistent backdoor installation, data exfiltration, system modification, and complete device compromise. The vulnerability requires an initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with the high severity rating as it represents a substantial security gap that could be leveraged by sophisticated attackers. This issue particularly affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, which were prevalent in numerous Android releases from 2015 through 2017.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0404 primarily involve applying security patches from the Android security bulletin, which typically include kernel updates that address the specific memory handling issues within the sound subsystem. System administrators should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected Android devices, particularly those running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18. Additional defensive measures include implementing application sandboxing, monitoring for unusual audio processing behavior, and conducting regular security assessments of kernel modules. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in kernel space, particularly around input validation and memory management, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 that covers privilege escalation through kernel exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing device monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous kernel-level activities that may indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability represents a classic example of how kernel-level flaws can be weaponized for complete system compromise.