CVE-2017-0593 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Framework APIs could enable a local malicious application to obtain access to custom permissions. This issue is rated as High because it is a general bypass for operating system protections that isolate application data from other applications. Product: Android. Versions: 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-34114230.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0593 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Android's Framework APIs that undermines fundamental security boundaries designed to isolate application data and functionality. This weakness specifically targets the permission system architecture that governs how applications interact with each other and access system resources, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass normal security controls. The issue affects multiple Android versions including 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability's classification as High severity reflects its potential to completely compromise the operating system's security model, which is fundamentally based on the principle of least privilege and application sandboxing.
The technical flaw manifests in the Framework APIs where custom permission checks are improperly validated, allowing a local malicious application to exploit a logic error in the permission verification process. This vulnerability specifically enables an attacker to obtain access to custom permissions that should normally be restricted to specific applications or system components. The underlying mechanism involves a failure in the permission validation logic where the system does not properly enforce the boundaries between different permission levels, creating an opportunity for privilege escalation. This issue is categorized under CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, specifically targeting the improper control of a resource through access control or privilege management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple data access, as it represents a complete bypass of Android's application isolation mechanisms that are essential for maintaining system security. A local malicious application could leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive data, perform unauthorized operations, and potentially escalate privileges to gain system-level access. The implications are particularly severe because the vulnerability operates at the framework level, meaning it affects the core security architecture rather than individual applications. Attackers could exploit this weakness to gain unauthorized access to protected system resources, intercept communications between applications, or manipulate application data in ways that violate the security model.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0593 require immediate system updates from Google, as the vulnerability is addressed through patches that correct the permission validation logic in the Framework APIs. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect unauthorized applications attempting to access restricted permissions, while also ensuring all devices are updated to the latest security patches. The remediation process involves updating Android to versions that contain the patched Framework APIs, which corrects the validation mechanisms that were previously bypassable. Security teams should also conduct thorough application security assessments to identify any applications that might be exploiting this vulnerability or that could potentially be used as attack vectors. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation,' demonstrating how the flaw can be leveraged to gain elevated system privileges through API exploitation.