CVE-2017-0825 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Broadcom wifi driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-37305633. References: B-V2017063002.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0825 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Broadcom wifi driver component of the Android kernel ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically affects Android devices that utilize Broadcom wireless networking hardware, creating a significant security risk for mobile device users and organizations relying on Android-based platforms. The issue stems from improper handling of memory structures within the wifi driver implementation, allowing unauthorized access to sensitive kernel memory regions that should remain protected from user-space applications.
Technical analysis reveals that the flaw manifests through a memory corruption issue in the wireless driver's handling of specific ioctl (input/output control) commands. When malicious applications or processes attempt to interact with the wifi driver through these interfaces, the driver fails to properly validate input parameters and memory boundaries. This inadequate validation creates a condition where attackers can manipulate the driver's internal state to read or access kernel memory locations containing confidential data such as cryptographic keys, network credentials, or other sensitive information. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation can provide attackers with elevated privileges and access to system resources that should remain restricted.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks within the Android security model. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can potentially extract sensitive information from the kernel memory space, including but not limited to authentication tokens, encryption keys, and configuration data. This access can lead to further compromise of the device through privilege escalation attacks or lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability affects all Android versions that incorporate the affected Broadcom wifi driver components, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of Android devices globally. The issue aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure" and specifically targets improper information disclosure within system components.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0825 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and system administrators. The primary remediation involves updating the Android kernel with patched versions that properly validate input parameters and implement proper memory boundary checks within the Broadcom wifi driver. Google and device vendors should prioritize rolling out security patches to affected devices through official update channels. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual wifi driver activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper kernel security practices and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation and memory management within device drivers. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized access to system resources that could be leveraged to exploit this vulnerability. This issue underscores the broader ATT&CK framework concept of privilege escalation through kernel-level vulnerabilities, where attackers can leverage driver flaws to gain system-level access and compromise entire device security postures.