CVE-2017-0534 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-32508732. References: QC-CR#1088206.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0534 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm video driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.18. This weakness resides in the privileged driver layer that handles video processing operations, creating a pathway for malicious applications to bypass normal access controls and retrieve sensitive data that should remain restricted to authorized processes. The vulnerability specifically affects the kernel-level video driver implementation, which operates with elevated privileges and manages hardware resources that are typically protected from unauthorized access by standard application permissions.
The technical exploitation of this flaw requires an initial compromise of a privileged process, making it a moderately rated vulnerability according to the Common Vulnerability Scoring System. This prerequisite means that attackers must first gain access to a process with elevated privileges before they can leverage the information disclosure capability. The vulnerability stems from inadequate boundary checking within the video driver's memory management functions, allowing a local malicious application to access memory regions that contain sensitive data from other processes or system components. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-200 category of "Information Exposure" and represents a classic case of privilege escalation through driver-level vulnerabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Android devices as it enables local attackers to extract confidential information that may include user credentials, personal data, or application secrets. The fact that it operates at the kernel level means that the disclosed information could potentially include system-level secrets, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive materials that would normally be protected by the operating system's security model. The vulnerability affects all Android devices running kernel 3.18 that incorporate Qualcomm video drivers, making it widespread across numerous device models and manufacturers that utilize Qualcomm's hardware components. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to access data that should remain isolated within specific process boundaries, effectively breaking the principle of least privilege that forms the foundation of modern operating system security.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-0534 primarily involve applying the relevant security patches provided by Qualcomm and Android vendors, which typically include enhanced memory access controls and improved validation of input parameters within the video driver code. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize updating affected devices to ensure that the patched drivers properly enforce memory boundaries and prevent unauthorized data access. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns within kernel drivers may help identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in driver development, particularly around memory management and privilege handling, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's system binary exploitation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing and process isolation measures to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities even when they are present in the system.