CVE-2017-0529 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the MediaTek driver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as High because it could be used to access sensitive data without explicit user permission. Product: Android. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-28449427. References: M-ALPS02710042.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0529 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within MediaTek driver components that operates at the system level of Android devices. This weakness stems from improper access controls and memory management within the driver implementation, allowing unauthorized applications to bypass normal permission boundaries and access data that should remain restricted to system-level processes or other privileged applications. The vulnerability specifically affects the MediaTek chipset implementations that are widely deployed across various Android smartphones and tablets, making it a significant concern for device security and user privacy.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the driver's failure to properly validate and enforce access permissions when handling memory operations or data structures. When a malicious application attempts to access memory regions or system resources that are outside its normal operational scope, the driver does not adequately verify the requesting process's privileges or identity. This design flaw creates an information disclosure channel that enables local privilege escalation, where a low-privilege application can potentially read sensitive data from system memory, kernel space, or other applications' memory segments. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to access confidential information such as user credentials, personal data, or proprietary application information without requiring user interaction or explicit permission grants.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to Android device security as it allows for unauthorized data access that could lead to comprehensive privacy breaches and potential identity theft. Attackers can leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information from other running applications, access system-level configurations, or obtain cryptographic keys that protect user data. The impact extends beyond individual user privacy concerns to potentially compromise enterprise security when devices are used in corporate environments where sensitive business data may be stored on the same devices. The vulnerability's high rating reflects its potential for exploitation without user consent, making it particularly concerning for devices that handle sensitive personal or corporate information. Security researchers have noted that this flaw can be particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications are running simultaneously, as it creates opportunities for cross-application data leakage.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0529 primarily focus on updating device firmware and applying security patches provided by device manufacturers and MediaTek. Users should ensure their devices receive the latest security updates from their respective vendors, as MediaTek has released patches to address the driver-level vulnerabilities. System administrators and security professionals should implement comprehensive device monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date threat intelligence regarding this vulnerability. The mitigation approach aligns with the principles outlined in the CWE taxonomy under CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and follows the ATT&CK framework's T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter usage. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual data access patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability, as well as conducting regular security assessments of their mobile device management systems to identify and remediate similar access control weaknesses.