CVE-2017-0463 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm networking 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-33277611. References: QC-CR#1101792.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/04/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0463 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's networking driver implementation that operates at the kernel level on Android devices. This security weakness resides in the kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, which were widely deployed across numerous Android smartphones and tablets during the affected period. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for an attacker to first compromise a privileged process before exploiting this flaw, indicating a sophisticated attack vector that demands initial access to the system. The Android ID A-33277611 and reference QC-CR#1101792 provide specific tracking identifiers for this particular security issue within Qualcomm's internal vulnerability management systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a flaw within the Qualcomm networking driver that fails to properly validate input parameters or enforce proper access controls when processing network-related operations. This driver component operates with elevated privileges within the kernel space, meaning any vulnerability within its code execution path can potentially be exploited to gain unauthorized access to the most privileged system resources. The flaw allows a local malicious application to escalate its privileges from user-level execution to kernel-level execution, effectively bypassing the standard security boundaries that separate user applications from the core operating system functions. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-269: "Improper Privilege Management" and represents a classic example of a kernel-level privilege escalation vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the device's kernel space operations. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application could modify critical system files, disable security features, install persistent backdoors, or extract sensitive data from the device without detection. The attack requires an initial foothold through a compromised privileged process, which could occur through various attack vectors including malicious applications installed on the device, phishing attacks, or other initial compromise methods. The kernel-level execution context means that the attacker's code runs with the highest privileges available to the system, effectively neutralizing all standard application sandboxing and user permission controls that normally protect system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0463 should focus on immediate patch deployment through official Android security updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm would have released firmware updates to address the specific driver vulnerability. Organizations and users should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that enforce timely security updates and maintain visibility into device security states. Network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring controls to detect anomalous kernel-level activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's characteristics place it within ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the kernel-level execution environment. Regular security assessments of mobile device firmware and kernel components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could provide similar attack paths, particularly focusing on driver components that operate with elevated privileges and have complex input validation requirements.