CVE-2017-0667 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Android framework. Product: Android. Versions: 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-37478824.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2020
This vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android framework that allows malicious applications to escalate their privileges and gain unauthorized access to system-level functionalities. The issue stems from improper access control mechanisms within the Android operating system's core components, specifically affecting versions ranging from 5.0.2 through 7.1.2. The vulnerability was identified through comprehensive security analysis and assigned the Android ID A-37478824, indicating its severity and the need for immediate attention from device manufacturers and end users.
The technical flaw manifests in the way Android handles inter-process communication and privilege verification during system operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that manipulate the framework's permission checking mechanisms to bypass normal security boundaries. This allows them to execute code with elevated privileges typically restricted to system-level applications or services. The vulnerability specifically impacts the Android framework's handling of certain system calls and API interactions that should normally require higher privilege levels to access. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-276, which deals with improper privilege management, and potentially CWE-732, improper restriction of operations within a security domain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a potential attack vector for comprehensive system compromise. Malicious actors could leverage this flaw to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, access sensitive user data, or even disable security features. The affected Android versions represent a significant portion of devices in the field, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous from a security perspective. Organizations and users running these vulnerable versions face increased risk of data breaches, unauthorized access to personal information, and potential full system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal user interaction, often allowing successful attacks through simple application installation or execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of security patches provided by Google and device manufacturers, which address the underlying privilege management issues in the Android framework. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected devices to the latest Android versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, users should avoid installing applications from untrusted sources and maintain regular security updates. Network security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and implement appropriate network segmentation to limit the impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation in mobile operating systems and reinforces the need for continuous security auditing of core framework components. Organizations implementing mobile device management solutions should ensure their policies include mandatory security patch deployment and regular vulnerability assessments to protect against similar threats. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations and the potential consequences of failing to address known privilege escalation flaws in mobile platforms.