CVE-2017-0462 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm Seemp 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-3.18. Android ID: A-33353601. References: QC-CR#1102288.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0462 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm Seemp driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.18. This vulnerability exists in the Qualcomm-specific security enhancement and management framework that governs how privileged processes interact with system-level resources. The issue stems from improper input validation and access control mechanisms within the kernel driver, creating a pathway for malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with kernel-level permissions. The vulnerability requires initial compromise of a privileged process as a prerequisite, making it a sophisticated attack vector that targets the underlying security architecture of the Android platform. The Qualcomm Seemp driver serves as a critical interface for managing security policies and access controls, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it undermines fundamental system integrity protections.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a flaw in how the Qualcomm Seemp driver handles specific kernel-level operations and memory management functions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to bypass normal privilege checks and gain unauthorized access to kernel execution contexts, effectively allowing them to run arbitrary code with the highest system privileges. The vulnerability manifests when the driver fails to properly validate inputs from user-space applications before processing them in kernel space, creating a classic buffer overflow or privilege escalation scenario. This flaw enables malicious actors to manipulate kernel data structures and execute malicious payloads that operate at the most privileged level of the operating system, potentially compromising all system resources and data. The attack vector operates through the kernel's security subsystem, where legitimate privileged processes are compromised and then used as launching points for kernel-level code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0462 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and persistent backdoor access. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they gain unrestricted access to all system resources including encrypted data storage, network interfaces, and communication channels. This vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principle of privilege separation and can be leveraged to install rootkits, modify system binaries, or extract sensitive information from the device. The attack requires a pre-existing compromised privileged process, which aligns with the attack pattern described in the attack technique matrix under technique T1068 for exploiting legitimate credentials and privileges. The vulnerability affects Android devices that utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon processors and their associated kernel implementations, creating widespread exposure across numerous mobile platforms and device models.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on both immediate patching and architectural improvements to prevent similar issues in future implementations. The primary recommendation involves applying the official security patches released by Qualcomm and Google to update the affected kernel components and fix the input validation flaws. Organizations should also implement runtime monitoring and integrity checking mechanisms to detect unauthorized kernel modifications or suspicious execution patterns. System administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as kernel module signing, mandatory access controls, and regular security audits of privileged processes. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and demonstrates the importance of secure kernel driver development practices. The incident highlights the critical need for robust input validation and privilege separation mechanisms in kernel-level code, particularly in mobile operating systems where device security directly impacts user privacy and data protection.