CVE-2017-0411 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Framework APIs 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: 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-33042690.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0411 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Android's Framework APIs that allows locally installed malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code within the context of privileged system processes. This vulnerability specifically affects Android versions 7.0 and 7.1.1, where the issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the framework components that should normally restrict third-party applications from accessing sensitive system functionalities. The Android ID A-33042690 indicates this was tracked as a significant security concern within Google's internal vulnerability management system, highlighting the severity of the privilege escalation vector.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper implementation of permission checking mechanisms within the Android framework APIs, which creates a pathway for local applications to bypass normal security boundaries. When a malicious application attempts to invoke certain framework APIs, the system fails to properly validate whether the calling process has appropriate privileges to perform the requested operations. This flaw enables an attacker to execute code with elevated privileges typically reserved for system-level components, effectively allowing the malicious application to operate outside its normal sandboxed environment. The vulnerability operates at the system API level where legitimate system services and privileged components interact, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to gain access to sensitive system resources and capabilities that should remain restricted to authorized system processes.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0411 is substantial as it provides a local attacker with the capability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code within the context of privileged processes, potentially enabling full system compromise. This vulnerability allows an attacker to gain access to system-level functionalities that normally require elevated permissions, including access to sensitive system data, modification of system configurations, and potential persistence mechanisms. The high severity rating reflects the fact that once exploited, this vulnerability could enable attackers to perform actions that would normally require system-level access, such as installing malicious applications, modifying system files, or accessing protected user data. From an ATT&CK perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries can leverage weaknesses in system APIs to gain elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include applying the latest security patches provided by Google through the Android security bulletin releases, which typically contain fixes for such framework-level privilege escalation issues. System administrators should ensure that all affected Android devices are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes, as the vulnerability exists at the core framework level and cannot be effectively addressed through application-level security measures alone. Additionally, organizations should implement mobile device management policies that enforce regular security updates and monitor for unauthorized applications that might attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities. The fix typically involves strengthening the permission checking mechanisms within the framework APIs to properly validate access controls and prevent unauthorized privilege escalation attempts. This vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper input validation and access control implementation in system-level APIs, aligning with CWE categories related to improper access control and privilege escalation flaws.