CVE-2017-0417 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Audioserver 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: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-32705438.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0417 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android Audioserver component, which operates as a privileged system service responsible for managing audio functionality across the operating system. This vulnerability exists in multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1, making it a widespread security concern affecting a significant portion of Android devices from 2014 through 2016. The issue stems from improper input validation and privilege management within the audio server daemon, creating a pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with elevated system permissions. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and demonstrates a failure in Android's security model to properly isolate privileged system services from untrusted user applications. The vulnerability is classified as High severity because it provides attackers with the ability to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to system-level capabilities that should remain restricted to legitimate system processes. The affected Audioserver component operates with elevated privileges to manage audio hardware and system audio configurations, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to establish persistent system-level access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a specific flaw in how the Audioserver handles certain input parameters or system calls from local applications. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious audio-related requests or manipulating audio service interfaces in ways that trigger improper privilege handling within the server process. The underlying cause aligns with CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, specifically focusing on how system services manage privilege escalation opportunities. The vulnerability allows a malicious application to leverage the audio server's elevated privileges to execute arbitrary code within the privileged context, effectively creating a backdoor for further exploitation. This type of attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates entirely within the local device environment without requiring network connectivity or external attack surfaces. The exploitation process typically involves a local application that can make requests to the Audioserver through Android's inter-process communication mechanisms, where the server fails to properly validate input parameters or enforce proper access controls.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0417 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a foundation for more sophisticated attacks that can compromise the entire device. Once an attacker gains elevated privileges through this vulnerability, they can potentially access sensitive system files, modify core Android components, install persistent malware, or establish covert communication channels. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass Android's security model, including the application sandboxing mechanisms that normally prevent third-party applications from accessing system resources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, specifically targeting the T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1083 (File and Directory Discovery) tactics. The implications for device security are severe, as this vulnerability allows local attackers to effectively compromise the integrity and confidentiality of the entire Android system. The affected Android versions span a critical period in mobile security history, making numerous devices vulnerable to this attack vector that could be exploited by malicious applications distributed through various channels including third-party app stores or phishing campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0417 require immediate patching of affected Android versions through official security updates from device manufacturers and Google. The recommended approach involves implementing proper input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the Audioserver component to prevent unauthorized privilege escalation. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize the deployment of security patches to affected devices, particularly those running Android versions 4.4.4 through 7.1.1. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring of audio service calls and establishing proper access control lists can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in system-level services and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of privileged components. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can interact with system audio services, reducing the attack surface for this specific vulnerability. Regular security audits of system services and privilege management mechanisms should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the potential consequences of failing to address known vulnerabilities in system services that operate with elevated privileges.