CVE-2017-13159 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Android system (activitymanagerservice). Product: Android. Versions: 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0. Android ID A-32879772.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13159 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android operating system's ActivityManagerService component. This issue specifically affects multiple Android versions including 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, and 8.0, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of system-level information within the ActivityManagerService, which is responsible for managing application lifecycle and system processes. The Android ID A-32879772 indicates this was tracked through Google's internal vulnerability reporting system, highlighting its significance within the Android security framework.
The technical flaw manifests when the ActivityManagerService fails to properly sanitize or restrict access to sensitive system information that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This information disclosure occurs through improper privilege checking mechanisms within the service's implementation, allowing malicious applications or processes to potentially access system-level data that they should not be authorized to retrieve. The vulnerability operates at the system service level, meaning it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges beyond what normal applications might possess. This flaw aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper information exposure, and represents a classic example of insufficient privilege checking in system services.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as the disclosed information could potentially enable attackers to gain insights into the system's internal state, application behavior, or even facilitate more sophisticated attacks. An adversary could leverage this information disclosure to understand running processes, system configurations, or application states that would normally be protected. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android versions suggests a fundamental flaw in the system service architecture that was not adequately addressed through patching mechanisms. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous when combined with other exploits, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that could be used to plan more targeted attacks against the device or user.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13159 should focus on implementing proper privilege validation and access control mechanisms within the ActivityManagerService. Organizations should ensure all Android devices are updated to the latest security patches provided by Google, as these updates typically contain fixes for such information disclosure vulnerabilities. The mitigation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1082, which involves discovering information about the system environment, and emphasizes the importance of maintaining up-to-date security configurations. Security teams should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous access patterns to system services, as this vulnerability could be exploited to gather intelligence about device configurations. Additionally, application developers should review their applications for potential misuse of system APIs that might inadvertently expose information through this vulnerability channel. The fix typically involves strengthening the privilege checking mechanisms within the ActivityManagerService to ensure that only authorized processes can access sensitive system information, thereby preventing unauthorized information disclosure and maintaining the integrity of Android's security model.