CVE-2017-0626 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm crypto engine 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-35393124. References: QC-CR#1088050.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0626 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm crypto engine driver component of Android systems. This weakness resides in the kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, affecting the underlying cryptographic infrastructure that protects sensitive data processing operations. The issue manifests as a privilege escalation vector that allows local malicious applications to bypass normal access controls and retrieve data that should remain restricted to higher permission levels. The vulnerability's classification as High severity stems from its potential to expose sensitive cryptographic materials, user credentials, and confidential information without requiring explicit user consent or elevated privileges. The Android ID A-35393124 and reference QC-CR#1088050 indicate this was tracked within Qualcomm's internal vulnerability management systems, highlighting the significance of the flaw in their security architecture.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper access control mechanisms within the Qualcomm crypto engine driver implementation. When applications attempt to interact with cryptographic operations, the driver fails to properly validate memory boundaries and access permissions, allowing unauthorized data access patterns. This flaw operates at the kernel level where cryptographic operations are processed, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by any locally installed application without requiring additional attack vectors or user interaction. The vulnerability demonstrates poor adherence to secure coding practices and inadequate input validation within the driver's memory management routines. According to CWE classification, this issue maps to CWE-284 Access Control, specifically related to improper access control in kernel-mode drivers. The flaw essentially creates a pathway for privilege escalation where unprivileged processes can access kernel memory regions that contain sensitive cryptographic keys, session data, or other confidential information typically protected by the operating system's security model.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0626 extends beyond simple data theft, as it fundamentally compromises the cryptographic security assurances that Android systems provide to users. Local malicious applications can exploit this vulnerability to access encrypted data, extract cryptographic keys used for device encryption, and potentially gain insights into the device's security architecture. This capability enables attackers to perform advanced persistent threats where they can gradually build knowledge about the target device's security posture. The vulnerability affects the integrity of the Android security model by undermining the principle of least privilege and breaking the isolation guarantees that separate applications should maintain from each other and from system-level resources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques such as privilege escalation and credential access, allowing adversaries to move laterally within the device's security boundaries. The impact is particularly severe because it operates silently in the background without user awareness, making it difficult to detect through standard monitoring procedures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0626 require both immediate patching and architectural considerations to prevent exploitation. Qualcomm released security updates that addressed the access control flaw in their crypto engine driver, requiring device manufacturers to incorporate these patches into their Android system updates. Organizations should prioritize applying the relevant kernel updates and ensure that all devices running affected kernel versions receive the necessary security patches. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns in cryptographic operations and memory access violations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level security testing and secure driver development practices, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security reviews of all kernel modules that handle sensitive operations. Additionally, device manufacturers should consider implementing additional runtime protections and memory isolation techniques to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future. Regular security audits of cryptographic implementations and adherence to secure coding standards are essential to prevent the recurrence of such access control failures.