CVE-2017-0624 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as High because it could be used to access sensitive data without explicit user permission. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-34327795. References: QC-CR#2005832.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-0624 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Qualcomm's Wi-Fi driver implementation on Android devices. This security weakness exists in the kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, which are widely deployed across various Android smartphones and tablets. The issue stems from improper access controls within the wireless networking subsystem, allowing unauthorized applications to bypass normal permission boundaries and access data that should be restricted to system-level processes or specific privileged applications. The vulnerability specifically affects the Wi-Fi driver component that manages wireless network communications and device interactions with wireless access points.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and memory management within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver kernel module. When legitimate applications attempt to interact with wireless networking functionality, the driver fails to properly enforce access restrictions that would normally prevent unauthorized data access. This flaw enables a local malicious application to exploit kernel memory structures and extract sensitive information through improper memory access patterns. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional application sandboxing mechanisms that typically protect user data and system integrity. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the security model where insufficient access control allows unauthorized data access, specifically categorized under CWE-284 for improper access control.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0624 is significant and far-reaching across the Android ecosystem, affecting devices running vulnerable kernel versions from 2017 onwards. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to extract sensitive information including network credentials, user data, and potentially system configuration details that should remain protected. The local nature of the attack means that malicious applications do not require network connectivity or user interaction to exploit the vulnerability, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may unknowingly install compromised applications. This flaw could enable adversaries to access personal information, authentication tokens, and other sensitive data stored in memory areas normally protected by kernel-level access controls. The vulnerability's high severity rating reflects its potential for data exfiltration and privilege escalation within the device's security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android devices through official security updates from device manufacturers and carriers. System administrators should prioritize deployment of kernel updates that address the memory access control issues within the Qualcomm Wi-Fi driver module. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual wireless activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers should conduct thorough security testing of kernel modules before deployment and establish robust patch management processes to quickly address similar vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and credential access techniques, where adversaries can leverage kernel-level flaws to obtain unauthorized access to sensitive system information. Additionally, mobile device management solutions should be configured to enforce strict application permissions and monitor for suspicious network behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts.