CVE-2017-0767 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Android media framework (libeffects). 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-37536407.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0767 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libeffects library component. This issue resides in the Android operating system's audio processing subsystem and impacts multiple versions spanning from Android 4.4.4 through Android 7.1.2, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the media framework's effects processing module, which allows malicious applications to exploit kernel-level privileges and execute arbitrary code with system-level permissions. The flaw specifically affects the audio effects processing pipeline where the system fails to properly validate user-supplied parameters before processing them within kernel space.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a buffer overflow condition within the libeffects library when processing specially crafted audio effect parameters. Attackers can leverage this weakness by creating malicious audio files or media content that triggers the vulnerable code path during audio processing operations. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to parse and apply audio effects configurations without proper bounds checking, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to escalate privileges from a regular application context to the privileged kernel level. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific input data that causes the system to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical kernel structures or execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0767 is severe and far-reaching, as it enables attackers to gain full system control over affected Android devices. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows malicious actors to execute code with the highest privilege level, potentially leading to complete device compromise, data exfiltration, and persistent backdoor installation. The affected versions represent a significant portion of Android devices deployed in enterprise and consumer environments, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous. The attack surface extends beyond simple media playback to include any application that processes audio effects or interacts with the media framework, including system applications, third-party media players, and even web browsers that may handle multimedia content. This vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation' and T1059, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter' as attackers can leverage the elevated privileges to execute additional malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0767 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management, as Google released security updates addressing this vulnerability in subsequent Android releases. Organizations should prioritize deploying the official security patches from Google and ensure all devices are updated to Android versions that contain the fix. Additionally, system administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted media processing applications and monitor for suspicious audio processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in kernel-level components and proper input validation mechanisms. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-based monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around audio processing services and system calls related to media framework operations. Regular security assessments of Android applications and system configurations remain crucial for maintaining protection against similar vulnerabilities in the media processing stack.