CVE-2017-0480 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 High because it could be used to gain local access to elevated capabilities, which are not normally accessible to a third-party application. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-32705429.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0480 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android Audioserver component that operates as a privileged system service. This issue affects multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege handling within the audio server daemon that manages audio processing and system audio configuration. The Android ID A-32705429 indicates this was tracked as a significant security concern by Google's security team, with the issue being classified as High severity due to its potential for privilege escalation.
The technical flaw manifests when a local malicious application attempts to exploit a weakness in the Audioserver's permission model or input validation mechanisms. This vulnerability allows an attacker to inject or manipulate audio-related commands that should only be executable by privileged system components. The flaw typically involves a lack of proper access control checks when processing audio configuration requests or when handling inter-process communication between the audio server and client applications. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which describes improper privilege management, and potentially CWE-78, which covers OS command injection. The attack vector requires local execution capability since the vulnerability exists within a system service that operates with elevated privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides a pathway for local attackers to execute arbitrary code with system-level privileges. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain access to capabilities that are normally restricted to system components, including access to sensitive audio hardware, system memory, and potentially other privileged resources. This could enable the attacker to install malicious applications, modify system files, access confidential data, or establish persistent backdoors on the device. The vulnerability essentially undermines the Android security model by allowing third-party applications to bypass normal privilege boundaries and execute code with the same privileges as system services. This represents a significant compromise of the Android runtime security architecture and could be leveraged in various attack scenarios including malware installation, data exfiltration, or device takeover.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0480 primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Users should ensure their devices are running the latest Android security patch level, which includes fixes for this specific vulnerability. System administrators should implement proper application sandboxing and monitor for suspicious audio-related system calls or processes. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of privilege separation and input validation in system services, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1068 for 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as runtime application self-protection, application whitelisting, and monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers and carriers should prioritize timely deployment of security updates to protect their user base from potential exploitation of this vulnerability.