CVE-2017-0799 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek lastbus. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-36731602. References: M-ALPS03342072.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0799 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek lastbus component of Android kernel implementations. This vulnerability specifically affects devices utilizing MediaTek chipsets and exposes a fundamental weakness in the kernel's privilege management mechanisms. The lastbus component serves as a critical interface for communication between different kernel modules and hardware components, making it a prime target for malicious exploitation attempts. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of kernel memory operations and insufficient validation of privilege levels during cross-module communications. This flaw allows an attacker with local access to potentially escalate their privileges from a regular user context to kernel-level access, effectively compromising the entire system security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through a specific flaw in how the MediaTek lastbus driver processes incoming requests and manages memory allocations. When the system receives certain malformed or specially crafted kernel-level communications, the lastbus component fails to properly validate the originating privilege context before executing sensitive operations. This validation failure creates an exploitable condition where unprivileged code can manipulate kernel memory structures and execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation would provide complete control over the device's operating system. Attackers could leverage this to install persistent backdoors, modify system files, or extract sensitive user data without detection.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to Android devices deployed in enterprise environments or those handling sensitive information. The exploitation requires local access to the device, which means that physical access or a compromised application with local privileges could be sufficient to trigger the vulnerability. This makes it particularly dangerous in scenarios where devices might be lost or stolen, as the attacker could potentially escalate privileges and access encrypted data or system resources. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions and MediaTek chipset generations, indicating a widespread impact across various device models. Organizations relying on Android-based devices for business operations should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority concern, particularly those with devices running vulnerable kernel versions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0799 should focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Device manufacturers and carriers should prioritize rolling out security updates that address the kernel-level flaw in the lastbus component. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious kernel-level activities and ensure that devices are running the latest security patches. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1068, involving exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing device enrollment and remote management solutions to ensure timely patch deployment across their device fleet. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be reinforced to limit the potential impact of a successful exploitation attempt. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security testing and proper privilege validation mechanisms in embedded systems and mobile platforms.