CVE-2017-0441 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-32872662. References: QC-CR#1095009.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0441 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's Wi-Fi driver implementation that operates at the kernel level. This security weakness resides in the Android operating system's kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, specifically affecting devices that utilize Qualcomm hardware components. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for an attacker to first compromise a privileged process before exploiting the flaw, yet the potential impact remains severe given the kernel-level execution context. The Android ID A-32872662 and the Qualcomm internal reference QC-CR#1095009 indicate this issue was properly documented and tracked within the respective vendor ecosystems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and memory handling within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver's kernel module. When processing specific Wi-Fi related operations or data packets, the driver fails to adequately validate user-supplied input parameters, creating a potential buffer overflow or memory corruption scenario. This flaw allows a malicious application with local access to manipulate kernel memory structures through crafted inputs, effectively elevating its privileges to kernel level execution. The vulnerability specifically impacts the driver's handling of Wi-Fi configuration parameters or network data that flows through the kernel space, where the security boundaries between user and kernel modes become compromised.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides a pathway for persistent malicious activity within the device's core operating system. Once exploited, the malicious application can execute arbitrary code with the highest system privileges, potentially enabling complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it requires only local access to the device, meaning an attacker could exploit this vulnerability through a compromised app or malicious file without requiring network access or physical device interaction. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where device integrity cannot be guaranteed, such as public or shared devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0441 should focus on both immediate patching and defensive measures. The primary solution involves applying the official Android security patches released by Qualcomm and Google, which address the underlying driver implementation issues through proper input validation and memory management. Organizations should implement robust application vetting processes to prevent installation of potentially malicious applications that could exploit this vulnerability, as well as monitor for suspicious network behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing kernel address space layout randomization and other exploit mitigations that can make successful exploitation more difficult even if the vulnerability remains unpatched, aligning with the defensive strategies recommended in the CWE-119 category for memory safety issues and the ATT&CK technique T1068 for privilege escalation.