CVE-2017-0449 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 Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process and is mitigated by current platform configurations. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10. Android ID: A-31707909. References: B-RB#32094.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0449 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.10. This weakness resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for managing wireless network communications, creating a pathway for malicious applications to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to system resources. The vulnerability specifically affects devices where the Broadcom Wi-Fi hardware is integrated with the Android operating system, making it a widespread concern across numerous mobile devices that rely on this particular driver implementation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a flaw in how the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver handles certain kernel-level operations, allowing a locally installed malicious application to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. This represents a classic kernel exploit scenario where the attacker must first compromise a privileged process to establish a foothold before leveraging the driver vulnerability to gain full system control. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the driver's kernel code, creating opportunities for privilege escalation attacks that bypass standard Android security mechanisms. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" in kernel contexts, and CWE-264, which covers "Permissions, Privileges and Access Controls" failures in kernel modules.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0449 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the security model of Android devices by allowing local malicious applications to execute code with the highest system privileges. This capability enables attackers to bypass the Android security sandbox, access sensitive system data, modify system files, and potentially install persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's moderate rating reflects the requirement for initial compromise of a privileged process, but this requirement does not significantly reduce the overall threat level given that modern Android applications often run with elevated permissions. The attack vector typically involves a malicious application that has already gained some level of system access through other means, then exploits this specific driver vulnerability to achieve full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on timely patching and system updates from device manufacturers, as the flaw exists within the kernel driver level where manual fixes are not feasible. Android security patches released after the vulnerability disclosure address the underlying driver implementation issues, requiring users to update their devices to the latest security patches. Additionally, system administrators should implement application whitelisting policies and monitor for suspicious behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics align with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation," and T1059, which addresses "Command and Scripting Interpreter" usage for executing malicious code. Device manufacturers should prioritize the deployment of kernel updates and ensure proper driver validation to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.