CVE-2017-0670 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service 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-36104177.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0670 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android framework that affects multiple versions of the operating system including Android 5.0.2 through 7.1.2. This vulnerability resides in the system's handling of certain network protocol operations and specifically impacts the Android framework's ability to process incoming network connections properly. The flaw manifests when the system encounters malformed or specially crafted network packets that trigger an improper response handling mechanism within the framework components responsible for network communication. The vulnerability was assigned Android ID A-36104177 and represents a significant security concern that could potentially allow malicious actors to disrupt normal system operations through carefully constructed network traffic.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the Android framework's network stack processing components. When the system receives network data that does not conform to expected protocols or contains malformed structures, the framework fails to properly handle these edge cases and instead enters a state where it becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. This occurs because the system's error handling mechanisms are insufficient to deal with certain combinations of network protocol fields that would typically be rejected by properly functioning network stacks. The flaw operates at a fundamental level within the Android framework's network communication layers and affects the core system components that manage network connections and data processing. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400 as an unspecified vulnerability related to resource management and input validation failures, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through network-based attacks without requiring any special privileges or user interaction.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0670 extends beyond simple system disruption to potentially compromise the availability of critical network services on affected Android devices. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause the device to become unresponsive or require a complete reboot, effectively rendering the device unavailable for normal operations during the recovery period. This denial of service condition can be particularly problematic for devices that rely on continuous network connectivity such as enterprise smartphones, IoT devices, or any system where uptime is critical. The vulnerability affects all versions mentioned in the advisory and represents a widespread issue that would require device manufacturers to implement security patches across their entire product line. Organizations using Android devices in mission-critical environments face significant risk as this vulnerability could be exploited to create service interruptions that affect business operations or emergency response capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0670 primarily focus on implementing timely security updates provided by device manufacturers and Google through their regular security patch cycles. Users should ensure their devices are running the latest available security patches, particularly those released in the April 2017 security update cycle which addressed this specific vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper error handling in system components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components. Device manufacturers should prioritize the implementation of defensive programming practices that include comprehensive input validation and graceful error handling to prevent similar issues from occurring in future releases.