CVE-2017-0434 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Synaptics touchscreen driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the touchscreen chipset. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-33001936.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0434 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Synaptics touchscreen driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.18. This security weakness resides in the touchscreen chipset driver that manages input operations from touchscreens, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious applications to gain unauthorized access to system-level operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the Android operating system and demonstrates how hardware driver components can serve as entry points for privilege escalation attacks that compromise the overall security posture of mobile devices.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the Synaptics touchscreen driver implementation. When a privileged process is first compromised, the malicious application can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the touchscreen chipset itself. This means that the attacker gains elevated privileges that would normally be restricted to system-level processes, potentially allowing them to manipulate system resources, access sensitive data, or modify critical system components. The vulnerability operates at a low-level driver interface where normal application sandboxing mechanisms may not be fully effective.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Android device security as it enables local code execution with elevated privileges, potentially allowing attackers to bypass standard security controls that protect against unauthorized system modifications. The requirement for an initial compromise of a privileged process means that attackers must first gain some level of access to the device before exploiting this specific vulnerability, but once achieved, the privilege escalation capability can be leveraged to establish persistent access or extract sensitive information from the device. The impact is particularly concerning given that touchscreen drivers typically operate with high system privileges to ensure proper input handling functionality.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-0434 should focus on updating the Synaptics touchscreen driver components to patched versions that address the privilege escalation vulnerability. System administrators and device manufacturers should implement timely security updates that include kernel patches and driver updates to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should also emphasize the importance of maintaining updated security patches across all system components, as this vulnerability demonstrates how hardware driver components can serve as attack vectors that require coordinated patching efforts across multiple software layers. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security monitoring to detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's exploitation typically involves code execution within privileged contexts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and represents a classic example of how driver-level components can create security gaps that allow privilege escalation attacks. The attack pattern follows principles outlined in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the exploitation of system drivers to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure driver development practices and proper input validation within kernel-level components, as these elements form the foundation of system security and can directly impact the overall integrity of mobile platforms.