CVE-2017-0668 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A information disclosure 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-22011579.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0668 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android framework that affects multiple versions of the operating system. This issue resides in the core Android infrastructure and exposes sensitive system data to unauthorized access, potentially compromising user privacy and system integrity. The vulnerability was tracked under Android ID A-22011579 and impacted devices running Android versions 4.4.4 through 7.1.2, representing a significant portion of the Android ecosystem during that time period.
The technical nature of this information disclosure vulnerability stems from improper handling of system-level data within the Android framework components. Specifically, the flaw allows malicious applications or processes to access sensitive information that should remain protected within the system's security boundaries. This type of vulnerability typically manifests through inadequate access controls or insufficient data sanitization mechanisms within the Android operating system's core services. The vulnerability operates at the framework level, meaning it affects the underlying system architecture rather than individual applications, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across the entire operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0668 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable attackers to gather sensitive information that may include user credentials, system configurations, or other confidential data that could be leveraged for further exploitation. This information disclosure could potentially facilitate more severe attacks such as privilege escalation, lateral movement within affected systems, or targeted attacks against specific user accounts. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Android versions indicates a fundamental flaw in the framework design that required widespread patching across the Android ecosystem. Security researchers have classified this issue as a medium to high severity vulnerability based on its potential to expose sensitive system information that could be exploited by malicious actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the official security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Organizations and users should prioritize updating their Android devices to versions that contain the necessary fixes for this information disclosure vulnerability. Additionally, implementing proper application sandboxing, monitoring for unauthorized data access attempts, and maintaining up-to-date security configurations can help reduce the risk of exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes information exposure vulnerabilities, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system design. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged during the credential access and reconnaissance phases, allowing adversaries to gather information about the target system and user environment. The widespread impact across multiple Android versions underscores the importance of maintaining timely security updates and demonstrates how framework-level vulnerabilities can affect large user populations simultaneously.