CVE-2017-0584 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm Wi-Fi 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-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-32074353. References: QC-CR#1104731.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0584 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Qualcomm's Wi-Fi driver implementation that affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18. This issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the wireless networking stack, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that extends beyond normal application permissions. The vulnerability specifically targets the driver layer responsible for managing Wi-Fi connectivity and communication protocols, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at a fundamental level of device networking functionality. The flaw allows for privilege escalation through local malicious applications that can exploit weaknesses in the kernel's access control enforcement, potentially enabling attackers to extract sensitive information that should remain restricted to system-level processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a race condition or improper validation within the Wi-Fi driver's memory management routines where insufficient checks are performed on data access requests. This creates an opportunity for malicious applications to manipulate kernel memory structures or bypass normal permission boundaries that typically protect system resources. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, specifically within the Qualcomm proprietary Wi-Fi driver module that interfaces between the Android framework and the underlying hardware. Attackers can exploit this weakness by first compromising a privileged process, which then serves as a launching point to access restricted memory regions or data structures that contain sensitive information such as user credentials, application data, or system configuration details. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which describes improper access control in software systems, and demonstrates how kernel-level flaws can create persistent security weaknesses.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses a moderate risk level because it requires initial compromise of a privileged process before exploitation can occur, providing a defense-in-depth mechanism that makes direct exploitation more challenging. However, the impact remains significant as successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data that may include personal information, authentication tokens, or confidential application data. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android devices that utilize Qualcomm chipsets, particularly those running older kernel versions that contain the vulnerable driver code. This creates a substantial attack surface across multiple device manufacturers and model lines, as Qualcomm's Wi-Fi drivers are widely distributed and integrated into various Android device configurations. The local nature of the attack means that physical access or prior compromise of a device is typically required, but once exploited, the malicious application can access data that should normally be protected by system-level security controls.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0584 should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar issues from arising. Device manufacturers should prioritize updating affected kernel versions to patched releases that contain proper access control mechanisms and memory validation routines. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious process behavior and unauthorized memory access attempts that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper kernel security controls and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers local privilege escalation through kernel vulnerabilities. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms that can limit the damage even if a local exploit succeeds. Regular security audits of kernel modules and driver implementations are essential to identify similar access control weaknesses that could create similar information disclosure opportunities. The incident underscores the critical need for robust security testing of kernel-level components and proper adherence to security best practices in driver development to prevent unauthorized data access through privilege escalation vectors.