CVE-2017-0796 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek auxadc driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-62458865. References: M-ALPS03353884, M-ALPS03353886, M-ALPS03353887.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The CVE-2017-0796 vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek auxadc driver component of Android kernel implementations. This vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the auxiliary analog-to-digital converter driver that manages hardware sensor inputs for various Android devices. The issue affects numerous MediaTek-based Android smartphones and tablets, creating a significant security risk that could allow malicious actors to escalate their privileges from unprivileged user contexts to full system-level access. The vulnerability specifically resides in how the driver handles certain ioctl commands and memory operations, creating potential attack vectors that bypass standard kernel security mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper validation of user-supplied data within the auxadc driver's command processing routines. Attackers can craft malicious input parameters that cause the driver to execute unintended code paths, leading to privilege escalation. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures and potentially execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively compromising the entire device security model. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it leverages legitimate kernel interfaces that are normally used for sensor data collection and device monitoring.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents severe implications for Android device security and user privacy. Once exploited, the attacker gains complete control over the device, enabling them to access all stored data, monitor communications, install malicious applications, and potentially create backdoors for persistent access. The vulnerability affects the fundamental security architecture of MediaTek-based Android devices, undermining the kernel's protection mechanisms and breaking the principle of least privilege. Devices running affected Android kernel versions become susceptible to various attack scenarios including remote exploitation through malicious applications, physical device compromise, or supply chain attacks targeting vulnerable firmware components. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect large-scale deployments in enterprise and consumer environments where MediaTek processors are prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0796 require immediate implementation of security patches provided by device manufacturers and Google. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Android devices to versions containing the patched kernel components. System administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities and maintain regular security assessments of device firmware. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in kernel drivers and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of device-specific drivers before deployment. Additionally, implementing kernel module signing requirements and runtime integrity checks can help prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future. Security teams should also consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class.