CVE-2017-0824 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Broadcom wifi driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-37622847. References: B-V2017063001.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0824 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Broadcom wifi driver component of the Android kernel ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically targets the wireless networking subsystem and exploits a flaw in how the driver handles certain memory operations during wifi functionality execution. The issue manifests through improper input validation and memory management practices that allow malicious code to escalate privileges from a standard user context to a system-level privileged context. The vulnerability affects Android devices running kernel versions that incorporate the affected Broadcom wifi driver implementation, creating a widespread security risk across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems utilizing this networking hardware.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a memory corruption flaw that arises when the wifi driver processes specific network packets or configuration commands. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious network traffic or manipulating wifi driver parameters to trigger a buffer overflow or memory corruption condition. This memory corruption enables unauthorized code execution with elevated privileges, allowing attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and gain root access to the device. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and improper memory allocation handling within the driver's processing routines, which directly maps to CWE-121, a well-documented weakness category for buffer overflow conditions in stack-based memory operations. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting the T1068 privilege escalation technique through kernel-level exploits.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0824 extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially enable large-scale attacks against Android ecosystems. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to gain complete control over affected devices, enabling them to access sensitive user data, modify system configurations, install malicious applications, and potentially establish persistent backdoors. The vulnerability's presence in the kernel level means that successful exploitation results in a complete system compromise that cannot be easily remediated through standard application updates. Mobile devices running affected kernel versions become vulnerable to attacks that can exfiltrate personal information, intercept communications, and provide attackers with persistent access to corporate networks through compromised endpoints. The widespread adoption of Broadcom wifi chips in Android devices creates a significant attack surface that could affect millions of users globally.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate kernel-level patches from device manufacturers and Google's Android team. The recommended approach involves applying security updates that correct the memory handling routines within the Broadcom wifi driver and implement proper bounds checking mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all affected Android devices receive timely security updates, particularly focusing on enterprise devices and critical infrastructure endpoints. Device manufacturers must implement robust testing procedures to validate patch effectiveness before deployment, as improper patching could potentially destabilize device functionality. Network administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing network-based detection measures that can identify suspicious wifi traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the importance of applying security updates promptly and understanding the risks associated with unpatched devices. Additionally, security researchers and organizations should maintain awareness of related vulnerabilities in similar driver components to prevent similar issues from emerging in other networking subsystems.