CVE-2017-0612 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment Communicator 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-3.18. Android ID: A-34389303. References: QC-CR#1061845.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0612 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment Communicator driver component of Android systems. This issue resides in the kernel-level communication interface that facilitates secure operations between the application processor and the secure execution environment. The vulnerability specifically affects Android devices running kernel version 3.18 and is classified as High severity due to its potential for kernel-level code execution. The Android ID A-34389303 and Qualcomm's internal reference QC-CR#1061845 indicate this was a well-documented security flaw that required compromising a privileged process to achieve the elevation of privilege.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment Communicator driver. This driver serves as a bridge between the standard Android operating system and the secure execution environment that handles sensitive operations such as cryptographic functions and secure boot processes. The flaw allows a local malicious application to craft specific inputs that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption within the kernel driver. When executed, these crafted inputs enable the malicious application to escalate its privileges from a regular user context to kernel-level execution context, effectively bypassing Android's security model.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0612 is severe as it provides attackers with a pathway to gain complete system control through kernel-level code execution. Once successfully exploited, the malicious application can manipulate system memory, modify critical kernel structures, and ultimately take complete control of the device. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the fundamental security boundaries that separate user applications from system-level operations. The requirement to first compromise a privileged process means that attackers would need to already have some level of access to the device, but this initial compromise is significantly easier than achieving direct kernel-level access through other means. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which describes weaknesses in memory management and buffer overflow conditions that can lead to privilege escalation.
The exploitation of this vulnerability follows patterns consistent with the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly within the privilege escalation and defense evasion domains. Attackers leveraging CVE-2017-0612 would typically need to first gain access to a privileged application or service that has the necessary permissions to interact with the vulnerable driver. The attack vector would involve carefully crafted malicious code that exploits the driver's communication interface to achieve kernel-level execution. This type of attack represents a sophisticated approach to privilege escalation that bypasses traditional Android security controls. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessment frameworks, particularly given that the affected kernel version 3.18 was widely deployed across numerous Android devices from 2016 and 2017. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure driver development practices and proper input validation in kernel-level components that interface with sensitive system operations. Remediation requires immediate patching of the Qualcomm Secure Execution Environment Communicator driver through official Android security updates and device manufacturer patches, as well as comprehensive system monitoring for potential exploitation attempts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate device compromise to highlight systemic security challenges in mobile operating systems. The secure execution environment design philosophy relies heavily on the assumption that driver interfaces are properly secured against malicious inputs. This vulnerability demonstrates how a flaw in a single driver component can undermine the entire security architecture of a mobile platform. The presence of such vulnerabilities in widely deployed kernel versions underscores the need for robust security testing and validation processes for all system components that operate at kernel level. Additionally, this vulnerability reinforces the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across mobile platforms, as delayed patching can leave devices vulnerable to exploitation for extended periods. The complexity of mobile security architectures makes vulnerabilities like CVE-2017-0612 particularly dangerous as they can be exploited through multiple attack vectors and may remain undetected for significant time periods.