CVE-2017-0812 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Android media framework (audio hal). Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0. Android ID: A-62873231.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0812 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the audio hardware abstraction layer. This vulnerability impacts Android versions 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, and 8.0, making it a widespread concern across multiple Android releases. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and improper access controls within the audio hardware abstraction layer implementation, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user-level processes to system-level access. The Android ID A-62873231 indicates this vulnerability was tracked internally by Google's security team, highlighting its significance within their vulnerability management system. This flaw demonstrates a fundamental breakdown in Android's security model where user-space applications can potentially manipulate system-level components through the media framework.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through improper handling of audio hardware interface calls within the media framework. Attackers can craft malicious audio streams or manipulate audio hardware abstraction layer interfaces to trigger unintended behavior in the system. The flaw typically involves buffer overflows or improper memory management when processing audio data through the hardware abstraction layer, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The attack vector leverages the audio hardware abstraction layer's insufficient validation of input parameters, enabling attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical system structures. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the boundary between user-space applications and kernel-level system components, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0812 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over affected Android devices. Once successfully exploited, adversaries can access sensitive system resources, modify system files, install malicious applications, and potentially exfiltrate user data without detection. The vulnerability creates a persistent backdoor that can be leveraged for further attacks, including lateral movement within networks and establishment of persistent access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and persistence mechanisms, specifically T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1074 for data staging. The affected devices become vulnerable to various attack scenarios including mobile banking trojans, corporate espionage, and targeted attacks against high-value users. Organizations relying on Android devices for business operations face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications, compromised websites, or specially crafted audio files delivered through social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0812 require immediate system updates and comprehensive security hardening measures. The most effective approach involves applying the Android security patches released by Google, which address the underlying buffer overflow conditions in the audio hardware abstraction layer. Organizations should implement mobile device management solutions to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected devices. Network-level protections can include implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized audio processing applications. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual audio processing activities and system calls from user-space applications that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices in system-level components, particularly around input validation and memory management. Device manufacturers and security researchers should conduct thorough code reviews of audio hardware abstraction layer implementations to identify similar vulnerabilities. Additionally, implementing runtime application protection mechanisms and behavioral monitoring can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level components that interface with hardware abstraction layers.