CVE-2017-11069 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, manipulation of SafeSwitch Image data can result in Heap overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11069 represents a critical heap overflow condition affecting multiple Android variants including MSM, Firefox OS, and QRD Android platforms. This flaw exists within the Linux kernel components utilized by these mobile operating systems, specifically in how they handle SafeSwitch Image data manipulation. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management practices during the processing of image data structures that are critical for system security operations. SafeSwitch functionality typically manages secure boot processes and trusted execution environments, making this heap overflow particularly dangerous as it could potentially compromise the entire security framework of affected devices.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking when processing SafeSwitch Image data structures within kernel memory space. When malicious or malformed image data is processed through the vulnerable code paths, the system fails to properly validate the size and structure of the incoming data before attempting to allocate heap memory. This allows attackers to craft specially crafted image data that exceeds allocated buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The heap overflow occurs due to inadequate memory allocation calculations and lack of proper overflow detection mechanisms in the kernel's image processing routines.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-11069 extends beyond simple system instability, presenting significant security risks to affected mobile platforms. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges from user-level to kernel-level execution, bypassing standard security boundaries and access controls. The exploitation of this heap overflow could enable full system compromise, allowing attackers to install malicious applications, modify system files, access sensitive user data, or establish persistent backdoors. Given that this affects Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android platforms, the vulnerability impacts a wide range of mobile devices from various manufacturers that utilize Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, potentially affecting millions of devices in the field. The vulnerability's presence in Linux kernel components means that it could be exploited across different device types and manufacturers that rely on the same kernel infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11069 should focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. Device manufacturers and security teams must prioritize applying kernel updates that include proper bounds checking and memory validation for SafeSwitch Image data processing. The implementation of address space layout randomization, stack canaries, and other exploit mitigation techniques can help reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, monitoring for unusual image processing activities and implementing strict input validation for all external data sources can serve as additional defensive measures. Organizations should also consider implementing device firmware integrity checks and secure boot mechanisms that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to stack and heap buffer overflows, and represents a significant risk under ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and defense evasion techniques, particularly targeting the system root access and kernel exploitation domains.