CVE-2017-0829 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Motorola bootloader. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-62345044.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0829 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Motorola bootloader component of Android devices. This weakness resides in the Android kernel and specifically affects the bootloader's handling of certain memory operations during the device boot process. The vulnerability was assigned the Android ID A-62345044, indicating its classification within Google's internal tracking system for Android security issues. The bootloader serves as the first software component to execute when a device powers on, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to gain unauthorized system-level access. This particular flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the boot process and potentially execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, effectively bypassing normal security restrictions that protect the device's operating system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the bootloader's initialization routines. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted boot images or manipulating the boot parameters passed to the bootloader during device startup. The flaw likely involves insufficient bounds checking or improper privilege separation between different execution contexts within the bootloader code. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" or similar memory corruption issues that occur when the bootloader processes untrusted input without adequate validation. The vulnerability's exploitation requires physical access to the device or the ability to install malicious boot components, making it particularly concerning for devices that may be compromised in the field.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0829 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full device compromise and data theft capabilities. Once exploited, an attacker could gain root access to the device's operating system, enabling them to install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive information, modify system files, or disable security features entirely. This vulnerability particularly affects Motorola devices running Android versions that incorporate the affected bootloader implementation, creating a widespread risk across multiple device models and generations. The threat landscape for this vulnerability includes both sophisticated nation-state actors and organized cybercriminal groups who seek to exploit such weaknesses for financial gain or espionage purposes. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) and T1014 (Rootkit) where the initial compromise leads to persistent system-level access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0829 primarily focus on firmware updates and device security hardening measures. Motorola released security patches to address this vulnerability through official firmware updates, requiring users to upgrade their device software to the latest secure version. Organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies that ensure all Android devices receive timely security updates, particularly those running affected bootloader versions. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious boot behavior or unauthorized device modifications that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure boot implementations and hardware-based security features such as Trusted Execution Environments or hardware security modules that can prevent unauthorized bootloader modifications. Additionally, device manufacturers should adopt more rigorous code review processes and security testing procedures for bootloader components, as these elements form the foundation of device security and are often difficult to patch once deployed in the field.