CVE-2017-0415 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Mediaserver 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: 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-32706020.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0415 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android Mediaserver component, which operates as a privileged system service responsible for handling multimedia operations including media file processing and playback functionalities. This vulnerability exists in Android versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these operating system versions across various mobile devices. The Mediaserver service runs with elevated privileges and system-level access, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to escalate their privileges from standard application level to system-level execution. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the media processing pipeline, specifically when handling crafted media files or malformed data structures that are processed by the mediaserver daemon.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a local malicious application that can manipulate the mediaserver service to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This typically involves crafting specially formatted media files or exploiting specific code paths within the media processing library that fail to properly validate input parameters or handle memory operations. The flaw allows an attacker to bypass normal security boundaries that would normally prevent a third-party application from executing code with system-level privileges. This type of vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation vulnerability under CWE-269, which specifically addresses issues where an attacker can gain elevated privileges beyond their normal access level. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it requires no network connectivity or user interaction beyond installing a malicious application, making it a significant concern for device security. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that allows the attacker to manipulate the execution flow of the privileged process, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive system resources, file systems, and potentially cryptographic keys stored within the device. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application could gain access to other applications' data, modify system files, install additional malware, or even create persistent backdoors. This vulnerability directly impacts the Android security model by undermining the principle of least privilege and allowing unauthorized code execution with system-level permissions. The attack scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes the use of local privilege escalation to gain system-level access, and T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through legitimate system processes. The vulnerability also affects Android's security framework by weakening the sandbox isolation between applications and system services, potentially enabling further attacks such as credential theft, data exfiltration, or device takeover. Organizations and users with affected Android versions face significant risk as this vulnerability could be exploited by both malicious applications installed on the device and potentially by attackers who have already gained some level of access to the device.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0415 focus primarily on applying the relevant Android security patches and updates released by Google as part of their regular security updates. Users should immediately update their devices to Android versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability, particularly Android 7.1.2 and later versions which include the necessary security patches. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security measures such as application whitelisting, monitoring for suspicious media file processing activities, and ensuring that only trusted applications are installed on affected devices. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for continuous monitoring of device security posture, as it represents a failure in the Android security model that could be exploited by attackers with minimal effort. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and ensure timely patch deployment across their device fleets. Additionally, security researchers and developers should be aware of similar vulnerabilities in media processing libraries and implement proper input validation and memory handling practices to prevent similar issues in future implementations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of securing system services that operate with elevated privileges and the necessity of thorough security testing for all components that handle external input data.