CVE-2017-0481 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in NFC could enable a proximate attacker 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-33434992.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0481 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android operating system's Near Field Communication implementation. This security weakness resides in the NFC subsystem and specifically affects devices running Android versions 4.4.4 through 7.1.1, making it a widespread concern across multiple generations of the mobile platform. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from its potential to allow a proximate attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of privileged processes, effectively bypassing normal security boundaries that typically protect system-level operations.
The technical flaw manifests through improper access controls within the NFC service implementation, where insufficient validation of input data allows malicious actors to manipulate NFC communication channels to escalate their privileges. This issue specifically impacts the Android NFC service daemon which handles all NFC-related operations and maintains elevated system permissions. The vulnerability enables an attacker positioned in close proximity to a target device to exploit the NFC subsystem and gain access to privileged execution contexts that should normally be restricted to system components only. This represents a classic privilege escalation vector where user-level applications can potentially execute code with system-level privileges, undermining the fundamental security model of the Android platform.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with unprecedented access to sensitive system resources and capabilities. An attacker could leverage this privilege escalation to access encrypted data, modify system files, install malicious applications, or even disable security features entirely. The proximate attacker requirement means that physical proximity to the target device is necessary, but this limitation does not mitigate the severity since NFC is commonly enabled on mobile devices and frequently used in daily operations. This vulnerability could be exploited in various attack scenarios including man-in-the-middle attacks, social engineering campaigns, or opportunistic exploitation in public spaces where NFC-enabled devices are present.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0481 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Android versions through official security updates provided by device manufacturers and Google. Organizations should disable NFC functionality on devices when not actively required and implement network-level controls to monitor for suspicious NFC activity. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software systems, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploitation of remote services for privilege escalation. Device administrators should also consider implementing mobile device management policies that restrict NFC capabilities and regularly audit NFC-related system logs for anomalous behavior patterns. Given that this vulnerability affects multiple Android versions, comprehensive security assessments should include verification of patch status across all managed devices and implementation of additional security controls to minimize the attack surface exposed by NFC functionality.