CVE-2017-0797 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek accessory detector driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-62459766. References: M-ALPS03353854.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0797 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek accessory detector driver component of Android kernel implementations. This vulnerability specifically affects devices utilizing MediaTek chipsets and exposes a fundamental security weakness in how the system handles accessory detection mechanisms. The issue stems from improper input validation and insufficient access controls within the kernel-level driver responsible for managing hardware accessories. Attackers can exploit this weakness to escalate their privileges from regular user context to kernel-level execution, thereby gaining complete control over the affected device. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that it operates at the kernel level, where the attacker can bypass standard operating system security boundaries and access sensitive system resources.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the MediaTek accessory detector driver's failure to properly validate input parameters when processing accessory connection events. This driver component operates with elevated privileges as part of the Android kernel's hardware abstraction layer, making it a prime target for privilege escalation attacks. The flaw manifests when the system receives malformed or unexpected input through the accessory detection interface, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory structures or function pointers within the driver's execution context. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The vulnerability essentially creates a path for arbitrary code execution within kernel space, enabling attackers to modify critical system components, extract sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0797 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity and confidentiality of Android devices running affected MediaTek chipsets. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to bypass Android's security model entirely, gaining access to all system resources including user data, cryptographic keys, and communication channels. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where mobile devices handle sensitive information such as corporate data, personal identifiers, or financial transactions. The attack surface is broad since the accessory detector driver is active during normal device operation, meaning exploitation can occur without requiring physical access to the device or specialized attack conditions. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1068, which covers 'Exploitation for Privilege Escalation', and T1059, covering 'Command and Scripting Interpreter', as attackers can establish persistent access and execute commands with full system privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0797 primarily focus on timely patch deployment and system hardening measures. Device manufacturers and Android vendors should prioritize the application of security patches that address the input validation weaknesses in the MediaTek accessory detector driver. These patches typically involve implementing proper bounds checking, input sanitization, and access control mechanisms within the kernel driver code. System administrators should also consider implementing additional security controls such as kernel module signing enforcement, runtime integrity checks, and monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure coding practices in kernel space, particularly around input validation and privilege management. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of their Android device fleets to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities, as this type of kernel-level flaw often indicates broader security weaknesses in the system's architecture. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the critical need for comprehensive security testing of hardware abstraction layers and driver components, as these elements often serve as attack vectors for sophisticated exploitation campaigns.