CVE-2017-0426 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Filesystem could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it could be used to access sensitive data without permission. Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-32799236.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0426 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the Android operating system's filesystem implementation. This security weakness affects Android versions 7.0 and 7.1.1, specifically targeting the underlying filesystem mechanisms that govern data access permissions and security boundaries. The vulnerability stems from inadequate validation of filesystem operations that allow unauthorized access to data outside the normal permission constraints typically enforced by the Android security model. This issue falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1083 for discovering files and directories, as it enables malicious applications to bypass normal access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits weaknesses in how the Android filesystem handles certain file operations and permission checks during data access requests. A local malicious application can leverage this flaw to traverse filesystem boundaries and access sensitive data that should normally be restricted to specific permission levels. The vulnerability manifests when the system fails to properly validate or enforce access controls during filesystem operations, allowing unauthorized read access to files and directories that contain confidential information. This type of flaw typically occurs in the kernel-level filesystem drivers or system call interfaces where proper boundary checking mechanisms are insufficient or incorrectly implemented.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0426 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates opportunities for attackers to gather sensitive information that could be used for further exploitation or to compromise other system components. The moderate severity rating reflects the potential for accessing confidential data without proper authorization, though it does not provide direct execution capabilities. Attackers could potentially access personal information, application data, or system configuration files that contain credentials, private keys, or other sensitive material. The vulnerability requires local access to the device, meaning the malicious application must already be installed and running with some level of privileges, but it significantly weakens the overall security posture by undermining the permission model.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Android security updates released in response to this vulnerability addressed the underlying filesystem access control mechanisms and implemented stricter validation of file operations. Organizations should ensure all affected devices are updated to the latest Android security patches, particularly those released in the 2017 security update cycle. Additionally, security monitoring should include detection of unauthorized filesystem access patterns and implementation of application sandboxing measures to limit the potential impact of compromised applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates how filesystem-level flaws can undermine the entire security architecture of mobile operating systems, making it essential for security teams to monitor and remediate such issues promptly.