CVE-2017-0628 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm camera driver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it first requires compromising a privileged process. Product: Android. Versions: Kernel-3.10, Kernel-3.18. Android ID: A-34230377. References: QC-CR#1086833.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0628 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Qualcomm's camera driver implementation that operates at the kernel level of Android devices. This weakness specifically affects Android systems running kernel versions 3.10 and 3.18, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that extends beyond normal application permission boundaries. The vulnerability resides in the camera driver component that manages hardware interactions and data processing for camera functionality, making it a critical attack surface for malicious actors seeking to escalate privileges and access sensitive information.
The technical nature of this flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management within the camera driver's kernel code, which allows a local malicious application to exploit a privilege escalation vector. When an application attempts to access camera hardware resources through the driver interface, the system fails to properly enforce access controls that should normally restrict data access based on application permissions. This creates a scenario where a compromised application could potentially read memory locations or data structures that contain information belonging to other processes or system components. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, which means that even applications with standard user permissions can leverage this flaw to gain access to data that should normally be protected by the operating system's security model.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial as it enables local privilege escalation attacks that can be particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications run with varying permission levels. Attackers who first compromise a privileged process can use this information disclosure vulnerability to extract sensitive data, including user credentials, personal information, or confidential application data. The moderate severity rating reflects the requirement for initial compromise of a privileged process, which adds a layer of complexity to exploitation but does not eliminate the risk entirely. The vulnerability affects all Android devices running the specified kernel versions, making it a widespread concern across numerous device models and manufacturers that rely on Qualcomm's camera driver implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying security patches and kernel updates provided by device manufacturers and Google. Organizations should prioritize updating their Android devices to versions that contain fixes for this specific kernel-level flaw, particularly focusing on kernel versions that address the camera driver's memory management and access control mechanisms. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns or privilege escalation attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. The fix typically involves strengthening input validation checks within the camera driver code and implementing proper memory boundary enforcement to prevent unauthorized data access. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information disclosure weaknesses, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1068 for local privilege escalation. Device manufacturers should ensure comprehensive testing of kernel updates to prevent regression issues while maintaining system stability and functionality.