CVE-2017-0507 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the kernel ION subsystem could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as Critical due to the possibility of a local permanent device compromise, which may require reflashing the operating system to repair the device. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-31992382.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0507 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android kernel's ION subsystem, a memory management component designed to facilitate efficient memory allocation and sharing between kernel and user-space processes. This vulnerability specifically affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, creating a pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions. The ION subsystem serves as a critical interface for managing shared memory buffers across various Android components including graphics drivers, camera subsystems, and multimedia frameworks, making it a prime target for exploitation. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the kernel's ION driver implementation, allowing malicious code to manipulate kernel memory structures and bypass security boundaries that normally protect the kernel from user-space interference.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted memory allocation request that triggers a buffer overflow or use-after-free condition within the ION subsystem's memory management routines. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate kernel memory pointers and potentially overwrite critical kernel data structures, enabling code execution in kernel context with full system privileges. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special permissions or root access to exploit, as the malicious application can leverage existing kernel interfaces to perform the privilege escalation. According to CWE-119, this represents a weakness in memory safety where the ION subsystem fails to properly validate memory access operations, leading to potential memory corruption that can be exploited to gain unauthorized system access. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique using kernel exploits, specifically targeting the kernel's memory management subsystem to achieve persistent system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0507 extends beyond immediate privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to complete device compromise and persistent backdoor installation. Once an attacker gains kernel-level access, they can manipulate system files, disable security features, install malicious applications, and potentially extract sensitive data from the device. The vulnerability's critical rating reflects the permanent nature of the compromise, as the attacker can modify core system components and establish persistence mechanisms that survive device reboots. Recovery from such exploitation typically requires complete system reinstallation or reflashing, making this vulnerability particularly damaging for both individual users and enterprise environments. The ION subsystem's role in handling multimedia and graphics operations means that exploitation could occur through legitimate applications that utilize these features, making detection more difficult and increasing the attack surface. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel security and the potential for seemingly benign memory management components to become attack vectors for complete system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0507 focus primarily on applying vendor security patches and updates that address the specific memory management flaws within the ION subsystem. Android security updates released in 2017 specifically targeted this vulnerability by implementing proper input validation, memory bounds checking, and improved memory allocation routines within the kernel's ION driver. Organizations should ensure all affected devices receive timely security updates, as the vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete device takeover. System administrators should also implement monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities and consider device hardening measures that limit the execution of untrusted code within kernel contexts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date kernel security patches and implementing proper security testing for kernel subsystems, particularly those handling memory management and inter-process communication. Regular security audits of kernel components and adherence to secure coding practices can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future kernel versions. Additionally, implementing application sandboxing and limiting the capabilities of applications that interact with kernel memory management interfaces can reduce the attack surface for such exploits.