CVE-2017-0437 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm Wi-Fi 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-32402310. References: QC-CR#1092497.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0437 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver component of Android systems. This weakness exists in kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these kernel versions across various Android devices. The vulnerability allows a local malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that protect the operating system from unauthorized access.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver implementation. When a malicious application attempts to exploit this vulnerability, it can manipulate driver functions to gain kernel-level privileges through a process that involves leveraging existing privileged access to manipulate kernel memory structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-119 category of "Improper Access to Memory" and specifically relates to buffer overflows or memory corruption issues that can be exploited to achieve privilege escalation. The attack vector requires the initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with the high severity rating as defined by the Common Vulnerability Scoring System.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0437 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the kernel execution environment. This level of access enables malicious actors to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, and potentially compromise the entire device. The vulnerability's exploitation capability means that once an attacker has gained access to a privileged process, they can leverage this weakness to achieve full system compromise without requiring additional attack vectors or user interaction. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where malware might already have some level of access to the device.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to patched versions of the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver and implementing proper kernel security measures. Device manufacturers should prioritize rolling out security patches that address the specific memory handling issues within the driver code, particularly focusing on input validation and memory access controls. The mitigation strategy should also include monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities and implementing additional security controls such as kernel address space layout randomization and stack canaries to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure driver development practices and the need for comprehensive security testing of kernel components, as highlighted by the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on privilege escalation techniques and kernel-level exploitation methods that target driver vulnerabilities.