CVE-2017-0646 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 Moderate due to details specific to the vulnerability. 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-33899337.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0646 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within the Bluetooth component of Android operating systems. This weakness allows local malicious applications to bypass normal permission boundaries and access data that should otherwise be restricted to higher privilege levels. The issue affects a wide range of 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 prolonged exposure window that spans multiple major releases. The vulnerability's classification as Moderate severity suggests that while it does not provide complete system compromise, it creates substantial privacy and security risks through unauthorized data access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper access controls within the Bluetooth subsystem implementation. When a malicious application attempts to access Bluetooth-related data or functionality, the system fails to properly validate whether the requesting application has adequate permissions to perform such operations. This flaw essentially creates a pathway for privilege escalation within the Bluetooth framework, allowing applications to read sensitive information that should be protected from unauthorized access. The vulnerability operates at the system level where Bluetooth services interact with the Android security model, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially expose device identifiers, connection logs, and other sensitive communication data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0646 extends beyond simple data leakage, as it fundamentally undermines the permission model that Android employs to protect user privacy. Local applications that exploit this vulnerability can potentially access Bluetooth pairing information, device discovery records, and communication logs that contain sensitive metadata about user activities and device interactions. This information disclosure can lead to various downstream security implications including location tracking through Bluetooth device discovery, social engineering attacks based on device usage patterns, and potential exploitation of other vulnerabilities that rely on Bluetooth connectivity information. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android versions suggests that it was not adequately addressed in security patches, leaving users across different generations of the platform exposed to similar risks.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which describes improper access control issues, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting local system vulnerabilities for privilege escalation. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it requires only local application-level access to exploit, meaning that any application with basic Bluetooth permissions could potentially leverage this flaw. Organizations and users should consider implementing additional security controls such as application permission monitoring, regular security scanning for unauthorized Bluetooth access, and ensuring timely patch deployment. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining comprehensive security testing for system-level components, particularly those that interface with hardware functionalities like Bluetooth that can serve as attack vectors for information disclosure.
The remediation approach for CVE-2017-0646 requires addressing the core permission validation mechanisms within the Bluetooth subsystem. Android security patches should enforce stricter access controls and implement proper validation of application privileges before allowing Bluetooth-related data access. System administrators should prioritize applying security updates that address this vulnerability, particularly in environments where Bluetooth connectivity is actively used. Additionally, mobile device management solutions should incorporate monitoring capabilities to detect and prevent unauthorized Bluetooth data access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining robust security controls in mobile operating systems, where hardware interfaces like Bluetooth can create unexpected attack vectors for information disclosure attacks.