CVE-2017-0533 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm video driver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32509422. References: QC-CR#1088206.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0533 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Qualcomm's video driver implementation that affects Android devices running kernel version 3.18. This weakness resides in the kernel-level graphics subsystem and demonstrates how hardware abstraction layers can introduce security risks that extend beyond traditional software boundaries. The vulnerability specifically impacts the video driver component that manages multimedia processing and rendering operations, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that bypasses normal permission controls.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper access control mechanisms within the Qualcomm video driver implementation. When a malicious application attempts to access video processing resources, the driver fails to properly validate memory boundaries and permission levels, allowing unauthorized data access patterns. This flaw operates at the kernel level where privilege separation is typically enforced, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to access sensitive data that should be restricted to system-level processes. The vulnerability manifests when the driver processes video frames or handles multimedia operations without proper validation of the requesting process's permissions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0533 is significant despite requiring initial compromise of a privileged process for exploitation. The vulnerability enables local attackers to potentially access sensitive system data, configuration information, and potentially user credentials or personal information stored in memory regions that should be protected. This information disclosure can facilitate further attacks by providing attackers with additional system information, credentials, or data that can be used to escalate privileges or conduct targeted attacks. The attack vector requires a local malicious application to first gain elevated privileges, which aligns with the moderate severity rating as noted in the vulnerability assessment. According to the CWE catalog, this vulnerability maps to CWE-200, Information Disclosure, which is classified under the broader category of improper access control issues.
From an attack perspective, this vulnerability follows the typical pattern described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework where adversaries first establish a foothold through initial compromise before escalating privileges or accessing sensitive data. The requirement to first compromise a privileged process means that attackers must first gain access to a system component that can execute with elevated privileges, which may involve exploiting other vulnerabilities or social engineering techniques. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning for mobile devices where users frequently grant applications broad permissions and where the attack surface includes both system-level and application-level components. The Android security model relies heavily on proper privilege separation, and this flaw undermines the kernel-level protections that are fundamental to Android's security architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0533 should focus on both immediate patching and operational security measures. Qualcomm released kernel updates that address the information disclosure vulnerability by implementing proper access control checks within the video driver component. Organizations should prioritize updating Android devices to versions that include the patched kernel components and ensure that all system-level applications are updated to prevent exploitation. The security community should also implement monitoring for suspicious activity related to video processing components and establish proper access control policies that limit the scope of applications that can interact with kernel-level graphics drivers. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other hardware abstraction layers that may present similar access control issues. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation in kernel-level drivers and underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of hardware abstraction layers in mobile operating systems.