CVE-2017-13171 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the MediaTek performance service. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID A-64316572. References: M-ALPS03479086.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13171 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the MediaTek performance service component of Android systems. This issue resides in the Android kernel and affects devices utilizing MediaTek chipsets, specifically targeting the performance service daemon that manages system resource allocation and optimization. The vulnerability stems from improper privilege handling within the kernel-level service that governs performance monitoring and control functions. Attackers can exploit this weakness to escalate their privileges from a regular user context to system-level access, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that protect the Android operating system.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in insufficient input validation and privilege checking mechanisms within the MediaTek performance service implementation. When the service processes certain performance-related commands or configuration changes, it fails to properly verify the privileges of the calling process or validate the integrity of incoming data. This allows malicious applications or attackers with limited access to manipulate the service through crafted inputs or command sequences that should only be executable by system-level processes. The flaw operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited to gain complete control over the device's core operations and system resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities that would otherwise be restricted. Once escalated to system privileges, an attacker can modify critical system files, install malicious applications with elevated permissions, access encrypted data, and potentially disable security features. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions that incorporate MediaTek chipsets, making it particularly widespread across various smartphone and tablet models. This flaw can be exploited remotely through malicious applications or locally through physical access, depending on the specific attack vector and the device's security configuration.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and patches from device manufacturers, as the flaw exists within the core kernel components that cannot be addressed through standard application-level security measures. Organizations should prioritize updating affected devices to the latest Android security patches and ensure that MediaTek performance service components are properly configured with appropriate privilege restrictions. System administrators should implement additional monitoring controls to detect unusual activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any potential unauthorized access that may have occurred. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privilege management, and maps to attack techniques within the ATT&CK framework related to privilege escalation and kernel exploitation. The remediation process must also include verification that the patched performance service components maintain proper access controls and that no backdoors or persistent malicious code was introduced during the exploitation process.