CVE-2017-0865 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek soc driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-65025090. References: M-ALPS02973195.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0865 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek system on chip driver component of the Android kernel ecosystem. This vulnerability specifically targets the MediaTek SoC driver implementation, which serves as a crucial interface between the Android operating system and the underlying hardware components. The flaw allows malicious actors to escalate their privileges from a regular user context to a system-level privileged execution environment, fundamentally compromising the security boundaries that protect Android devices from unauthorized access and control.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and insufficient access control mechanisms within the MediaTek driver implementation. The flaw manifests when the system processes specific ioctl (input/output control) commands or memory operations that are intended to be restricted to privileged system processes only. Through careful exploitation of this weakness, an attacker can manipulate kernel memory structures or bypass security checks that should normally prevent unauthorized access to critical system resources. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-264 category of "Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls," specifically addressing insufficient access control mechanisms that allow unauthorized privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0865 extends far beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with complete control over the affected Android device. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges, effectively granting them full system access. This includes the ability to modify or replace system binaries, access encrypted data, monitor user activities, and establish persistent backdoors within the device. The vulnerability affects all Android devices utilizing MediaTek SoC processors, making it particularly widespread across the mobile ecosystem. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious applications, compromised websites, or even physical device access scenarios.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the "Elevation of Privilege" tactic. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction in many scenarios, as it can be triggered through legitimate application interfaces that are not properly secured against malicious input. Security researchers have documented that this vulnerability can be exploited in the wild, with proof-of-concept code demonstrating successful privilege escalation on affected devices. The Android ID A-65025090 and reference M-ALPS02973195 indicate that this vulnerability was properly tracked and documented by the Android security team, highlighting the severity of the issue within the mobile security landscape. Organizations and device manufacturers were required to implement immediate patches and updates to address this vulnerability, as it represented a significant threat to user privacy and device security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0865 primarily focus on applying the latest security patches provided by device manufacturers and the Android Open Source Project. System administrators should ensure that all affected devices receive timely updates, as the vulnerability cannot be effectively addressed through network-based security measures alone. Additionally, implementing proper input validation mechanisms and access control checks within driver code can help prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in the future. The vulnerability underscores the importance of rigorous security testing for kernel-level components, particularly those that interface with hardware-specific drivers that are often less scrutinized than higher-level software components.