CVE-2017-0450 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Audioserver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. This issue is rated as Moderate because it is mitigated by current platform configurations. Product: Android. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-32917432.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0450 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android Audioserver component, which serves as the central audio management daemon responsible for handling audio operations across the system. This vulnerability specifically affects the audio server's privilege handling mechanisms, creating a potential pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. The flaw exists in the Android operating system's core audio subsystem where proper access controls and privilege boundaries have been compromised.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and privilege management within the Audioserver service. When a local application interacts with the audio server through legitimate system interfaces, the vulnerability allows for manipulation of the privilege escalation process. This typically occurs through improper handling of IPC (inter-process communication) messages or buffer overflows in audio data processing routines that enable an attacker to inject malicious code into the privileged audio server context. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue under CWE-269, which specifically addresses improper privilege management in software systems. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of CWE-121, buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-787, out-of-bounds write operations, which are common vectors for privilege escalation attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with elevated system access that could enable further exploitation within the Android environment. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application could gain access to sensitive system resources, modify audio configurations, intercept audio data, or potentially access other privileged system components. This represents a significant security risk in mobile environments where local applications have access to the device and could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access or escalate their capabilities. The attack vector requires local access to the device, but the implications are severe as it bypasses standard Android security model protections and could be combined with other vulnerabilities to achieve more comprehensive system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0450 should focus on both immediate platform hardening and long-term security improvements. Android security patches released by Google addressed the underlying privilege management issues in the Audioserver component, requiring system updates to remediate the vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict application vetting processes and ensure all Android devices receive timely security updates through proper channel management. The vulnerability's moderate rating reflects existing platform mitigations such as SELinux policies and Android's security model hardening, but these protections are not foolproof and require continuous monitoring. Security teams should implement device monitoring to detect anomalous audio server behavior and maintain awareness of related attack patterns in the ATT&CK framework under T1068, exploit for privilege escalation, and T1059, command and scripting interpreter, which are commonly associated with audio server-based attacks. Additionally, implementing proper application sandboxing and limiting audio server access permissions can reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.