CVE-2017-0526 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the HTC Sensor Hub Driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10. Android ID: A-33897738.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0526 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the HTC Sensor Hub Driver component of Android devices running kernel version 3.10. This weakness resides in the kernel-level sensor hub driver implementation that manages hardware sensor data processing and communication between various system components. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for an attacker to first compromise a privileged process, which then provides the necessary foothold to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code at the kernel level. The HTC Sensor Hub Driver serves as a critical interface between hardware sensors and the Android operating system, making it a prime target for attackers seeking deep system access.
The technical flaw manifests in improper input validation and memory handling within the sensor hub driver's kernel module. When the driver processes sensor data from applications or system components, it fails to properly validate the data structures and memory allocations, creating potential for buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. This vulnerability specifically affects the interaction between the sensor hub driver and the kernel's memory management subsystem, allowing malicious code to manipulate kernel memory structures through crafted sensor data inputs. The flaw enables an attacker who has already gained access to a privileged process to leverage this weakness and achieve kernel-level code execution, effectively bypassing Android's security model and gaining complete system control.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0526 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, which represents the highest level of system access possible. This capability allows for complete system compromise, enabling attackers to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, and potentially disable security mechanisms. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and demonstrates how attackers can chain multiple exploitation techniques to achieve their objectives. The kernel-level execution capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it operates below the normal security boundaries that protect user applications from direct system manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and broader system hardening approaches. Android security patches released in 2017 addressed this specific flaw through kernel-level fixes that improved input validation and memory handling within the sensor hub driver. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure timely deployment of security updates, particularly for devices running kernel version 3.10. Additional mitigations include implementing kernel address space layout randomization (KASLR), enabling kernel module signing requirements, and employing runtime monitoring to detect anomalous sensor hub driver behavior. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) classifications, demonstrating the importance of proper memory management in kernel drivers. The incident underscores the critical need for robust kernel security practices and highlights how vulnerabilities in seemingly specialized components can provide attackers with pathways to complete system compromise, making regular security assessments of kernel modules essential for maintaining Android device security.