CVE-2017-0608 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm sound driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-35400458. References: QC-CR#1098363.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0608 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within Qualcomm's sound driver implementation on Android devices. This issue resides in the kernel-level audio subsystem and demonstrates how hardware-specific drivers can create pathways for unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects Android devices running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of these kernel versions across various mobile platforms. The flaw enables a local malicious application to escalate its privileges and execute arbitrary code within the kernel context, fundamentally compromising the system's security model.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper input validation within the Qualcomm sound driver component. When a malicious application attempts to interact with the audio subsystem, the driver fails to properly validate certain parameters or memory operations, creating a potential code execution path that bypasses normal privilege boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes 'Stack-based Buffer Overflow', as the issue typically arises from inadequate bounds checking during audio data processing. The vulnerability's exploitation requires an initial compromise of a privileged process, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. The attack vector leverages the inherent trust model between the audio driver and the kernel, allowing malicious code to manipulate kernel memory structures through crafted audio processing commands.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0608 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation provides attackers with complete kernel-level access to affected devices. This level of access enables malicious actors to modify system files, install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, and potentially disable security mechanisms. The vulnerability's high severity rating reflects the difficulty in preventing exploitation once an attacker has compromised a privileged process, as the kernel-level execution context provides unrestricted access to all system resources. Mobile device users face significant risk from this vulnerability, as audio processing is a fundamental system function that applications frequently utilize, making the attack surface particularly broad.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0608 primarily focus on applying vendor-provided security patches and updates that address the specific buffer overflow conditions in the Qualcomm sound driver. System administrators should prioritize updating devices to kernel versions that contain the necessary fixes, particularly those released after the vulnerability disclosure. The mitigation approach aligns with the principle of least privilege and proper input validation as recommended in industry standards. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that detect anomalous audio processing behaviors, as these may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, device manufacturers should consider implementing runtime protections such as kernel address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. Regular security assessments of audio subsystems and driver components should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components, following the ATT&CK framework's guidance for identifying and mitigating privilege escalation vectors.