CVE-2017-0499 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in Audioserver could enable a local malicious application to cause a device hang or reboot. This issue is rated as Low due to the possibility of a temporary denial of service. Product: Android. Versions: 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-32095713.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0499 resides within the Android audioserver component, representing a denial of service weakness that can be exploited by local malicious applications to induce device instability. This flaw manifests as a potential device hang or complete reboot, significantly impacting user experience and system reliability. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across several major Android releases. The issue is categorized as low severity due to its temporary nature, yet the potential for system disruption remains significant in operational contexts where continuous availability is critical.
Technical analysis reveals that the audioserver component in Android systems handles audio processing and management functions, making it a critical subsystem for device operation. The vulnerability likely stems from improper input validation or memory management within the audio server's processing routines, allowing malicious applications to craft specific inputs that trigger system instability. This type of flaw typically involves buffer overflows, improper error handling, or race conditions that can cause the system to enter an unrecoverable state. The local nature of the exploit means that the malicious application must already have execution privileges on the device, which reduces the attack surface but does not eliminate the risk in compromised environments. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which deals with improper restriction of operations within a defined access scope, and potentially CWE-476, related to null pointer dereference conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0499 extends beyond simple service interruption, as device reboots can result in data loss, interrupted user sessions, and potential security implications during the recovery process. For enterprise environments, this vulnerability could disrupt business operations, particularly in scenarios where Android devices are used for critical functions such as point-of-sale systems, industrial control interfaces, or mobile workforce management. The temporary denial of service characteristic means that while the system may recover automatically, the disruption period can vary from seconds to minutes, creating unacceptable downtime in mission-critical applications. Security practitioners must consider this vulnerability as part of broader device hardening strategies, particularly when implementing mobile device management policies.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0499 primarily involve applying the relevant Android security patches and updates released by Google to address the specific flaw in the audioserver component. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Android versions, ensuring that devices are updated to versions that contain the necessary fixes for the audioserver vulnerability. Organizations should also implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized applications from gaining execution privileges, thereby reducing the attack surface for local exploitation. The implementation of runtime application security monitoring can help detect anomalous audio processing behaviors that may indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability relates to T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) as it involves local privilege escalation through system service manipulation. Network security teams should monitor for unusual device behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where Android devices are integrated with enterprise networks. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include evaluation of Android system components to identify similar weaknesses in audio processing subsystems.