CVE-2017-0581 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Synaptics Touchscreen driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-34614485.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The CVE-2017-0581 vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Synaptics Touchscreen driver component of Android systems running kernel version 3.18. This vulnerability exists at the intersection of hardware driver security and operating system privilege management, creating a pathway for malicious applications to escalate their privileges from user-level to kernel-level execution. The flaw specifically affects Android devices that utilize Synaptics touchscreen controllers, making it particularly widespread across various mobile devices that depend on this hardware component. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from the requirement for initial compromise of a privileged process, which provides attackers with a foothold to achieve deeper system control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies within the Synaptics Touchscreen driver's insufficient input validation and improper privilege handling mechanisms. When a malicious application gains access to a privileged process, it can exploit a flaw in the driver's kernel interface to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This occurs through improper handling of device ioctls or other kernel communication mechanisms that should enforce strict privilege checks but fail to validate the calling process's permissions adequately. The vulnerability essentially allows an attacker to bypass kernel security controls that normally prevent user-space applications from executing code with kernel-level privileges, creating a direct path to system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0581 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to gain complete control over affected Android devices. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level execution, they can modify system files, disable security features, install malicious software, and potentially access all user data without detection. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only a local malicious application to be running with some level of privilege, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may inadvertently install compromised applications. This flaw directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security model of Android systems, where kernel-level operations should remain protected from user-space interference.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0581 should focus on immediate patch deployment through official Android security updates, as Synaptics released driver updates to address the specific privilege escalation flaw. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize rolling out these updates across affected devices, particularly those running kernel 3.18 and earlier versions. Additionally, implementing runtime monitoring and behavioral analysis can help detect suspicious kernel-level activity that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting and restricting the installation of third-party applications from untrusted sources to reduce the initial attack surface that could lead to exploitation of this vulnerability.