CVE-2017-0419 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-32220769.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0419 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android audioserver component that operates with elevated system privileges. This issue stems from improper input validation and access control mechanisms within the audio subsystem, creating a pathway for malicious local applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with the elevated permissions of the audioserver process. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The audioserver process typically runs with system-level privileges to manage audio hardware and services, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to gain elevated access to the device.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a flaw in how the audioserver handles certain input parameters or system calls, allowing a local malicious application to manipulate the process execution flow. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation," and specifically relates to privilege escalation mechanisms within system services. The flaw enables an attacker to bypass normal access controls that should prevent third-party applications from executing code with elevated privileges. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain access to sensitive system resources, modify audio configurations, or potentially establish persistent access to the device through the elevated privileges. The vulnerability's classification as High severity reflects the significant risk it poses to device security and user privacy.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to Android device security as it allows local code execution with system-level privileges without requiring user interaction or additional attack vectors. The audioserver process, being a core system component, provides access to audio hardware interfaces and system services that are normally restricted to authorized system processes. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to access microphone functionality, manipulate audio output, or potentially gain access to other system resources that are protected by normal privilege boundaries. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and demonstrates how attackers can leverage system service flaws to gain elevated access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0419 primarily involve applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which address the underlying input validation issues in the audioserver component. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these patches across all affected Android versions to prevent exploitation. Additionally, implementing application sandboxing measures and monitoring for unusual audioserver process behavior can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Device administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to limit which applications can interact with system audio services. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in system-level components and demonstrates the critical need for regular security updates to protect against privilege escalation attacks that target core system services.