CVE-2017-0509 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver 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: N/A. Android ID: A-32124445. References: B-RB#110688.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0509 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of Android operating systems. This weakness allows a locally malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code with kernel-level permissions, fundamentally compromising the security boundaries that protect the device from unauthorized access. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the Wi-Fi driver implementation, creating a pathway for privilege escalation that could be exploited by any application with local access to the device.
The technical nature of this flaw places it squarely within the realm of kernel-level privilege escalation vulnerabilities, which are classified under CWE-269 as "Improper Privilege Management" and CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write." The vulnerability occurs when the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters passed from user-space applications, allowing crafted malicious payloads to manipulate kernel memory structures or function pointers. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the kernel level where all system protections are effectively bypassed, enabling complete system compromise without requiring external network access or physical presence.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a persistent threat vector that can lead to permanent device compromise, as noted in the original description. The exploitation of this flaw could result in complete system takeover, allowing attackers to install malicious applications, access all device data, modify system files, and potentially disable security mechanisms. The requirement for full system reflash to remediate this issue indicates the severity of the compromise, as it suggests that the vulnerability allows for deep system modifications that cannot be easily reversed through normal software updates or patching procedures. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1059 which covers "Command and Scripting Interpreter" as attackers could establish persistent access through kernel-level modifications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0509 must focus on both immediate protective measures and long-term system hardening approaches. Immediate actions should include applying the relevant security patches provided by Google and Broadcom, ensuring all devices are updated to versions that address the specific driver vulnerability. Organizations should implement strict application vetting processes to prevent potentially malicious applications from gaining local access to devices, as the vulnerability requires local execution capabilities to be exploited. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous kernel-level activities or unexpected privilege escalations, which could indicate exploitation attempts. The mitigation approach should also incorporate the principle of least privilege for all applications and services, reducing the potential attack surface for similar vulnerabilities. Given the critical nature of this vulnerability, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation vectors and ensure that proper defensive measures are in place to protect against both current and emerging threats targeting kernel-level components of mobile operating systems.