CVE-2017-0639 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in Bluetooth component could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as High because it is a general bypass for operating system protections that isolate application data from other applications. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-35310991.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-0639 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within Android's Bluetooth component that fundamentally undermines the operating system's application sandboxing mechanisms. This security weakness allows local malicious applications to bypass the standard permission model and access data that should remain isolated from other applications, effectively creating a privilege escalation vector that compromises the core security architecture of the platform. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, indicating a widespread issue that persisted across several major releases. The Android ID A-35310991 further emphasizes the severity and recognition of this flaw within the Android security ecosystem, as it represents a specific tracking identifier for this particular vulnerability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient access controls within the Bluetooth subsystem that governs how applications interact with the wireless communication framework. When a malicious application attempts to access Bluetooth services or related data structures, the flawed implementation fails to properly validate or enforce permission boundaries, allowing unauthorized data access through the Bluetooth interface. This creates a pathway for applications to read or manipulate data that belongs to other applications or system components, effectively breaking down the traditional security isolation that separates different application processes and their respective data stores. The flaw operates at a system level rather than an application level, making it particularly dangerous as it leverages legitimate system services to achieve unauthorized access. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which deals with improper access control, and potentially CWE-20 which addresses improper input validation. The operational impact extends beyond simple data theft as it enables further attack vectors including potential privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and system compromise through the exploitation of this information disclosure weakness.
The implications of this vulnerability extend significantly beyond the immediate scope of Bluetooth data access, as it fundamentally challenges the security model that Android relies upon for application isolation and data protection. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in other applications, potentially including personal data, credentials, or proprietary information that should remain protected by the operating system's permission model. The high severity rating reflects the fact that this vulnerability provides a general bypass mechanism that undermines core operating system protections, making it particularly dangerous for enterprise environments where multiple applications handle sensitive data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as it allows malicious actors to access system resources that would normally be restricted. The impact on user privacy and data security is substantial, as the vulnerability enables unauthorized access to application data through a commonly used system service. Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability must consider the broader implications for their security posture, as this flaw could enable attackers to move laterally through the system or access data that should remain protected by standard application sandboxing mechanisms. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Android versions indicates that the underlying flaw was not adequately addressed in security patches, requiring comprehensive remediation strategies that include system updates, application security reviews, and enhanced monitoring of Bluetooth-related activities.