CVE-2017-0583 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm CP access driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process and because of vulnerability specific details which limit the impact of the issue. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32068683. References: QC-CR#1103788.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0583 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm CP access driver component of Android systems. This issue resides in the kernel-level driver responsible for managing communication between the application processor and the cellular modem processor, creating a potential pathway for malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code with kernel-level permissions. The vulnerability specifically affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, which were prevalent in numerous smartphone models from 2016 and earlier. The Qualcomm CP access driver serves as a bridge for modem communication and system management functions, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain deeper system control.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and privilege management within the driver's kernel code. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the CP access driver through specific system calls, the driver fails to properly validate the incoming parameters, allowing for potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. This flaw creates an opportunity for privilege escalation because the driver operates with elevated privileges and does not adequately sanitize user inputs before processing them. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow or CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, depending on the specific exploitation vector used by attackers. The attack requires an initial compromise of a privileged process, which aligns with the Moderate rating, as it does not allow direct code execution without prior system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, effectively bypassing Android's security model. Once exploited, the malicious application could gain complete control over the device's modem functionality, potentially enabling surveillance capabilities, data exfiltration, or even permanent system compromise. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to elevate their privileges. The kernel-level execution capability means that standard Android security measures such as SELinux policies and application sandboxing become ineffective against this attack vector, as the malicious code operates at a lower system level where these protections are bypassed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0583 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Android versions through security updates from device manufacturers, as Qualcomm released patches addressing this specific driver vulnerability. System administrators and security professionals should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious driver access patterns and abnormal system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers should consider implementing additional runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization KASLR and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. The vulnerability's classification as Moderate in severity reflects the requirement for prior compromise of a privileged process, but this does not diminish the potential impact of successful exploitation. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify any similar driver-level vulnerabilities and implement network segmentation to limit the potential spread of attacks originating from compromised devices, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device management solutions can provide additional protection layers.