CVE-2017-0711 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek networking driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36099953. References: M-ALPS03206781.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0711 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek networking driver component of the Android kernel ecosystem. This weakness specifically affects Android devices that utilize MediaTek chipsets, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user-level access to kernel-level control. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the network driver module, which processes network packets and manages network interface communications. Security researchers have classified this issue as a privilege escalation vulnerability that directly impacts the integrity and security posture of affected Android devices. The flaw manifests when the system fails to properly validate network packet data structures, allowing attackers to craft malicious network traffic that can trigger unintended behavior within the kernel driver. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level, where it can bypass standard Android security mechanisms and access critical system resources without proper authorization.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging buffer overflow conditions or improper memory management within the MediaTek networking driver implementation. Attackers can craft specially malformed network packets that, when processed by the vulnerable driver, cause the kernel to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This typically occurs through stack or heap corruption techniques that manipulate the execution flow of the driver code. The vulnerability may also involve use-after-free conditions or integer overflows that occur during network packet processing. According to the associated Android ID A-36099953 and reference M-ALPS03206781, this issue specifically impacts MediaTek chipset implementations and demonstrates how hardware-specific drivers can introduce security weaknesses that affect the entire operating system. The flaw essentially allows an unprivileged attacker to gain root-level access to the device, enabling them to modify system files, install malicious applications, or extract sensitive user data. The attack surface is particularly broad since network communication is fundamental to device functionality, making exploitation possible through various network protocols and connections.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0711 extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect large-scale deployments of Android devices using MediaTek chipsets. Organizations relying on Android-based devices for enterprise or consumer applications face significant risks when these vulnerabilities remain unpatched. The privilege escalation capability allows attackers to bypass standard Android security controls such as SELinux policies, application sandboxing, and permission models. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 Improper Access to Memory Location and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write categories, which are fundamental to understanding how memory corruption flaws can lead to privilege escalation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged to achieve initial access or maintain persistence within target environments. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete device compromise, data exfiltration, and potential lateral movement within networked environments where affected devices are connected. Network-based attacks can be particularly effective as they require minimal user interaction and can be automated to target multiple devices simultaneously.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0711 primarily focus on applying the appropriate security patches and updates provided by device manufacturers and Google. Android security updates typically include fixes for kernel-level vulnerabilities through the regular security patch cycle, with specific patches addressing MediaTek driver implementations. Device manufacturers should prioritize the deployment of security updates to affected devices, particularly those running Android versions prior to the patch release. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and regular security assessments of kernel drivers, especially those from third-party vendors like MediaTek. Organizations should consider implementing additional network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to network-based attacks and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds that track exploitation of similar kernel vulnerabilities. The remediation process requires coordinated effort between chipset vendors, operating system developers, and device manufacturers to ensure comprehensive coverage of affected platforms. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments of kernel components should be part of ongoing security operations to identify and address similar issues before they can be exploited in the wild.