CVE-2017-0436 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm sound driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32624661. References: QC-CR#1078000.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0436 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm sound driver component of Android systems. This issue resides in the kernel-level audio subsystem and demonstrates how hardware-specific drivers can introduce significant security risks when not properly secured against malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these kernel versions across various mobile device manufacturers. The flaw allows a local malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions, effectively bypassing the standard security boundaries that separate user applications from the core operating system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the Qualcomm sound driver implementation. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the audio subsystem through specific API calls or data structures, the driver fails to properly validate the incoming parameters or memory references. This validation gap creates an opportunity for attackers to craft specially crafted inputs that trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other exploitable conditions within the kernel space. The vulnerability's classification as High severity reflects the fact that exploitation requires first compromising a privileged process, but once achieved, the attacker gains complete control over the kernel execution environment. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow" conditions, and CWE-122, which covers "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" scenarios that can lead to privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0436 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of Android devices by allowing malicious code to execute with the highest system privileges. Once exploited, the vulnerability enables attackers to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, access encrypted data, and potentially compromise the entire device. The attack vector typically involves a malicious application that has already gained some level of user privileges but lacks kernel-level access. The exploitation process requires careful crafting of audio-related API calls that trigger the vulnerable code path within the Qualcomm driver. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability represents a valuable entry point for advanced persistent threats, as it provides a mechanism to bypass standard Android security controls such as SELinux policies and application sandboxing. The vulnerability's presence in kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18 makes it particularly dangerous since these versions were widely deployed across multiple device generations and manufacturers.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0436 primarily focus on patching the affected Qualcomm sound driver components and implementing proper kernel security measures. Device manufacturers should prioritize updating their kernel implementations to versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability, which typically involve proper input validation and memory management within the audio driver code. System administrators and security professionals should also implement monitoring for suspicious audio-related API calls and unusual kernel behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1059, which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter" activities that may follow successful privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel module signing enforcement and runtime integrity checking to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of kernel components and driver implementations should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.