CVE-2017-0597 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in Audioserver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of a privileged process. This issue is rated as High because it could be used to gain local access to elevated capabilities, which are not normally accessible to a third-party application. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-34749571.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0597 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android Audioserver component, which operates as a privileged system service responsible for managing audio functionality across the device. This vulnerability specifically affects Android versions ranging from 4.4.4 through 7.1.2, creating a persistent security weakness that allows local malicious applications to escalate their privileges and execute code within the context of the privileged Audioserver process. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within the audio server's processing pipeline, where improper bounds checking enables attackers to craft malicious audio data that triggers exploitable conditions in the underlying system services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when the Audioserver processes malformed audio data structures. Attackers can leverage this weakness by installing a malicious application on the target device and then triggering the vulnerable audio processing path through specific audio playback operations. The overflow allows the malicious code to overwrite critical memory regions within the privileged process, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution with the elevated privileges of the Audioserver itself. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates the dangerous implications when privileged system components fail to properly validate input data from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0597 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as the Audioserver process typically operates with extensive system privileges including access to hardware resources, system memory, and potentially sensitive data channels. Successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain access to device encryption keys, modify system files, monitor user communications, or establish persistent backdoors within the device. The vulnerability's classification as High severity reflects its potential for enabling comprehensive system compromise, as the Audioserver process often has access to privileged APIs and system resources that are normally restricted to legitimate system components. This weakness creates a persistent threat vector that remains active as long as the vulnerable Android versions are in use, making it particularly dangerous for devices that cannot receive timely security updates.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0597 primarily focus on immediate Android security updates that address the underlying buffer overflow conditions in the Audioserver implementation. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize deployment of the relevant security patches that include improved input validation, enhanced memory management, and proper bounds checking within the audio processing components. Additional protective measures include implementing application sandboxing controls that limit audio processing capabilities of third-party applications, monitoring for anomalous audio data processing patterns, and establishing device monitoring protocols that can detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and proper input validation in privileged system components, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques that target system services and daemon processes. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based detection mechanisms to identify potential exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures that account for the specific attack vectors enabled by such elevation of privilege vulnerabilities.