CVE-2017-11067 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android, with all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, the Athdiag procfs entry does not have a proper address sanity check which may potentially lead to the use of an out-of-range pointer offset.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11067 resides within the Linux kernel implementation used across various Android platforms including MSM (Mobile Services Module) devices, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android environments. This flaw manifests in the athdiag procfs entry which serves as a debugging interface for wireless networking components. The core issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify memory address ranges before processing user-supplied input. Such a deficiency creates a potential pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory access violations through crafted inputs that manipulate pointer offsets beyond acceptable bounds.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where a program accesses memory beyond the boundaries of a buffer or allocated region. The athdiag procfs entry lacks proper bounds checking mechanisms that would validate pointer offsets against legitimate memory ranges, creating a scenario where an attacker could supply malicious data that results in unauthorized memory access patterns. This weakness operates at the kernel level within the Linux kernel subsystem responsible for wireless networking drivers, specifically affecting Qualcomm-based Android devices that utilize the Common Android Framework. The vulnerability represents a classic case of improper input validation where the system fails to sanitize user-provided parameters before utilizing them in memory operations.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for affected Android devices as it could enable arbitrary code execution or system instability. An attacker with local access to the device could potentially leverage this flaw to escalate privileges or cause denial-of-service conditions by manipulating the wireless networking subsystem through the vulnerable procfs interface. The impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as it could allow for privilege escalation attacks that compromise the entire device security model. The vulnerability affects all Android releases from CAF that utilize the Linux kernel, making it widespread across numerous device manufacturers and models that depend on Qualcomm's MSM architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11067 should focus on implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms within the athdiag procfs entry and ensuring that all pointer operations validate memory address ranges before execution. System administrators should apply kernel updates from device manufacturers that include patches addressing this specific vulnerability. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves exploiting weaknesses in the system to gain elevated privileges. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous access patterns to procfs entries and consider device hardening measures that restrict unnecessary access to kernel debugging interfaces. Additionally, regular security assessments of kernel modules and driver implementations should be conducted to identify similar validation gaps that could lead to similar vulnerabilities in the wireless networking subsystem.