CVE-2017-0554 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Telephony component could enable a local malicious application to access capabilities outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it could be used to gain access to elevated capabilities, which are not normally accessible to a third-party application. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-33815946.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0554 resides within the Telephony component of Android operating systems, representing a critical elevation of privilege flaw that undermines the security model of the platform. This issue affects multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1, indicating a widespread exposure across several major releases. The vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls and permission validation mechanisms within the telephony subsystem, allowing malicious applications to exploit weaknesses in the component's security boundaries.
The technical flaw manifests through improper validation of permissions and access controls within the Telephony service, which typically operates with elevated privileges to manage phone calls, SMS messaging, and network connectivity. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting a malicious application that exploits the insecure handling of telephony-related APIs and system calls. The vulnerability is categorized as a CWE-276 - Incorrect Permission Assignment, which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized access to system resources. This flaw enables an attacker to bypass normal application sandboxing restrictions and gain access to capabilities that should be restricted to system-level applications or privileged components.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant threat to Android device security as it allows local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and access sensitive system functionalities. The exploitation of this vulnerability could potentially enable attackers to intercept phone calls, access SMS messages, modify network settings, or gain access to other privileged system resources. The moderate severity rating reflects the potential for significant damage, as the attack vector requires only local execution within the device environment, making it relatively accessible to threat actors. This vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege, which is fundamental to Android's security architecture and aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation.
The security implications extend beyond immediate privilege escalation, as compromised telephony services could serve as a foothold for further exploitation within the Android ecosystem. Attackers might use this vulnerability to establish persistent access, install additional malicious components, or exfiltrate sensitive data from the device. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning given that telephony components often have extensive access to device hardware and network connectivity features. Remediation efforts should focus on implementing proper input validation, strengthening access controls, and ensuring that telephony APIs enforce strict permission boundaries. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize patching affected Android versions and consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious telephony-related API usage patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining robust security controls within system-level components and demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing of privileged services.