CVE-2017-0598 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Framework APIs could enable a local malicious application to bypass operating system protections that isolate application data from other applications. This issue is rated as High because it could be used to gain access to data that the application does not have access to. 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-34128677.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0598 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Android's Framework APIs that undermines fundamental security principles of application isolation. This weakness allows a local malicious application to circumvent the operating system's mandatory access controls that are designed to prevent unauthorized access to other applications' data and resources. The vulnerability specifically affects multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, making it a widespread concern across a significant portion of the Android ecosystem. The issue is categorized as High severity due to its potential for data exposure and privilege escalation capabilities that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper validation of access controls within the Android framework's API implementation. When applications attempt to access resources or data that should be restricted to specific permissions, the system fails to properly enforce these boundaries. This flaw creates a pathway for a malicious application to manipulate the system's access control mechanisms and gain unauthorized access to data that would normally be protected by the Android security model. The vulnerability essentially allows for a form of privilege escalation where an application can bypass the normal sandboxing constraints that separate different applications' data stores and memory spaces. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control vulnerabilities, and specifically relates to the weakness of insufficient access control validation within system APIs.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0598 is substantial as it enables attackers to extract sensitive information from other applications running on the same device. A malicious application could potentially access personal data, credentials, messages, photos, and other confidential information stored by other applications without proper authorization. This vulnerability undermines the core security principle of application isolation that Android relies upon to protect user privacy and data integrity. The local nature of the exploit means that an attacker would need to first install a malicious application on the target device, but once successful, the attacker could access data from other applications that are normally protected by the system's security model. This represents a significant breach in the Android security architecture and could be leveraged to create more sophisticated attacks that combine this information disclosure with other exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Organizations and users should ensure that their devices are updated to the latest Android versions that contain fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, mobile device management solutions should implement policies that prevent the installation of untrusted applications and maintain strict application permission controls. From a defensive standpoint, security teams should monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts and consider implementing behavioral analysis tools that can detect anomalous access patterns that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under the technique of privilege escalation, specifically using application sandbox escape methods, and could be used in conjunction with other techniques to establish persistent access to sensitive information. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification that proper access controls are functioning correctly to prevent unauthorized data access through such vulnerabilities.