CVE-2017-0562 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek touchscreen driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as Critical due to the possibility of a local permanent device compromise, which may require reflashing the operating system to repair the device. Product: Android. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-30202425. References: M-ALPS02898189.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-0562 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek touchscreen driver component of Android devices. This issue stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the kernel-level driver that processes touchscreen events, creating a pathway for local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and gain full kernel-level execution capabilities. The vulnerability specifically affects MediaTek-based Android devices where the touchscreen driver operates with elevated privileges and lacks adequate security controls to prevent unauthorized code execution. The flaw allows an attacker with a locally installed malicious application to leverage kernel-level access, potentially leading to complete device compromise without requiring external network connectivity or user interaction beyond installation of the malicious payload.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer overflow or memory corruption issue within the touchscreen driver's input handling mechanisms. When the driver processes touchscreen events, it fails to properly validate the size or content of incoming data structures, allowing an attacker to craft malicious input that overflows kernel memory buffers or manipulates kernel data structures. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution within the kernel context, bypassing standard Android security boundaries that typically protect against local privilege escalation. The vulnerability's classification as critical stems from the fact that kernel-level code execution provides attackers with complete control over device operations, including access to all device resources, data storage, and communication channels. The issue demonstrates a clear violation of the principle of least privilege, where the touchscreen driver operates with unnecessary elevated permissions that could be reduced without affecting functionality.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent backdoor for attackers to maintain control over compromised devices. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they can modify system files, install persistent malware, disable security features, and access encrypted data that would normally remain protected. The requirement for device reflashing to repair the vulnerability indicates the severity of the compromise, as attackers could potentially install rootkits or other persistent malicious code that survives device reboots. This vulnerability particularly affects MediaTek-powered Android devices where the touchscreen driver is implemented as a kernel module with direct hardware access privileges. The attack vector requires only local execution capability, making it accessible through any application that can be installed on the device, including those that might appear legitimate but contain hidden malicious functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0562 focus primarily on updating device firmware and kernel components to address the underlying driver vulnerability. Device manufacturers should prioritize immediate security updates that patch the touchscreen driver implementation and reduce kernel privileges where possible. System administrators and security teams should implement application whitelisting policies to prevent installation of untrusted applications that could exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which describes weaknesses in memory management, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." Organizations should also consider implementing device integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized kernel modifications and establish incident response procedures for handling potential exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments of kernel modules and driver implementations should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with similar escalation paths. Given the nature of this vulnerability, it is recommended that users avoid installing applications from untrusted sources and maintain up-to-date security patches from their device manufacturers to minimize exposure to this and related kernel-level threats.