CVE-2017-0791 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Broadcom wi-fi driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-37306719. References: B-V2017052302.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0791 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom Wi-Fi driver component of the Android kernel ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically targets the wireless networking subsystem where the kernel driver fails to properly validate input parameters during certain ioctl (input/output control) operations. The flaw exists in how the driver handles specific wireless configuration commands, creating an opportunity for malicious code to escalate privileges from a standard user context to kernel-level access. The vulnerability was tracked under Android ID A-37306719 and referenced in Broadcom security advisory B-V2017052302, indicating its significance within the mobile platform security landscape.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the kernel driver's wireless interface. When legitimate userspace applications attempt to configure wireless parameters through ioctl system calls, the driver does not adequately sanitize or verify the parameters passed to kernel space. This creates a path where crafted malicious input can trigger unintended behavior in kernel memory management, potentially allowing an attacker to manipulate kernel data structures or execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw essentially allows a local attacker with minimal privileges to gain complete control over the device's kernel execution environment, bypassing standard security boundaries that normally protect kernel space from user applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of Android devices running affected kernel versions. An attacker who can successfully exploit this vulnerability gains complete kernel-level access, enabling them to modify system files, disable security features, install malicious applications with system privileges, or extract sensitive data from protected memory regions. This level of access provides attackers with the capability to establish persistent backdoors, modify device firmware, or create stealthy rootkits that can evade standard detection mechanisms. The vulnerability affects all Android devices that utilize Broadcom Wi-Fi chipsets and run kernel versions containing the flawed driver implementation, making it particularly widespread across the mobile platform ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0791 require immediate patching of the affected kernel components through security updates from device manufacturers. Organizations and individuals should prioritize applying the latest Android security patches that contain fixes for this vulnerability, as the exploitability of this flaw increases with the presence of vulnerable kernel versions. Additionally, network administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious wireless configuration activities and consider deploying device integrity checking mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation'. Given the nature of the flaw, implementing kernel module signing requirements and restricting user access to wireless configuration interfaces can provide additional defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts.