CVE-2017-0430 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as Critical due to the possibility of a local permanent device compromise, which may require reflashing the operating system to repair the device. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32838767. References: B-RB#107459.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0430 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems. This security weakness exists within the kernel-level drivers responsible for managing wireless connectivity and specifically affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the Wi-Fi driver code, creating a pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with kernel-level permissions. Such a flaw fundamentally compromises the security model of the Android platform by allowing applications with minimal privileges to gain unrestricted access to system resources and kernel functions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific flaw in how the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver handles certain input parameters during wireless communication processing. When a malicious application attempts to leverage this weakness, it can manipulate driver functions to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, bypassing normal security boundaries that separate user-space applications from the core operating system. This particular vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper access to memory locations, and represents a classic example of a kernel-level buffer overflow or memory corruption vulnerability. The attack vector requires local access to the device since the malicious application must already be installed and running on the target system, but once exploited, it provides complete control over the kernel execution environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0430 extends far beyond typical application-level security breaches, as it enables permanent device compromise that may require complete system reinstallation to remediate. This critical severity vulnerability allows attackers to gain root-level access to the device, potentially enabling them to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, disable security features, and access all user data stored on the device. The implications are particularly severe because the kernel-level access provides attackers with unlimited privileges to manipulate system behavior, including the ability to modify or replace core system components. This vulnerability directly impacts the Android platform's security architecture and represents a significant threat to device integrity and user privacy. The attack scenario typically follows the pattern of a malicious application being installed on the device, followed by exploitation of the Wi-Fi driver vulnerability to escalate privileges and gain persistent kernel-level control over the system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0430 require immediate patching of affected Android devices through official security updates from device manufacturers and Google. The vulnerability necessitates kernel-level patches that address the specific memory handling issues within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver implementation, often requiring updates to the Android security patch level. Organizations and users should prioritize applying the latest security updates, particularly those addressing kernel vulnerabilities in Android versions running kernel 3.10 and 3.18. The remediation process typically involves updating the device firmware and kernel components, with some cases requiring complete system reinstallation or reflashing to ensure the vulnerability is fully addressed. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious network activity and unauthorized application installations that might attempt to exploit this vulnerability. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security patches and demonstrates the critical nature of kernel-level security in mobile operating systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.