CVE-2017-0666 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Android framework. 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-37285689.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0666 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android framework that affects multiple versions of the operating system from Android 4.4.4 through 7.1.2. This vulnerability resides in the system's permission handling mechanisms and allows malicious applications to escalate their privileges beyond the intended security boundaries. The Android ID A-37285689 specifically identifies this issue within Google's internal tracking system, indicating its significance in the Android security ecosystem. The flaw manifests in the way the system processes certain permission requests and validation checks, creating an exploitable condition that could be leveraged by attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of permission requests within the Android framework's core components. Specifically, the flaw occurs when the system fails to properly verify the authenticity and legitimacy of permission requests during the privilege escalation process. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that manipulate the permission handling logic to bypass normal security restrictions. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-276, which deals with improper privileges, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation." This allows adversaries to execute malicious code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining access to sensitive system functions, user data, or other applications running on the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0666 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it can enable comprehensive system compromise when exploited. Once an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially access all system resources, modify critical system files, install malicious applications, and access sensitive user data including personal information, communications, and credentials. The vulnerability affects all Android versions mentioned in the advisory, making it particularly concerning as it spans a significant portion of the Android ecosystem. Mobile security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users may not have the same level of security awareness as desktop users, and where the device often contains highly sensitive personal and corporate data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0666 primarily focus on immediate system updates and security patches provided by Google and device manufacturers. Users should ensure their Android devices receive the latest security updates, particularly those released in the Android security bulletin for April 2017, which specifically addressed this vulnerability. Organizations implementing mobile device management solutions should prioritize patching affected devices and monitoring for exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and monitoring for suspicious permission requests that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1068 underscores the importance of monitoring system calls and privilege escalation attempts, as well as maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence to detect potential exploitation of this weakness. Device manufacturers and carriers should also consider implementing additional security layers such as SELinux policy enforcement and runtime application verification to prevent exploitation of such privilege escalation vulnerabilities.