CVE-2017-13174 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the kernel edl. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID A-63100473.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13174 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android kernel's kernel edl component, specifically affecting Android versions that utilize this kernel implementation. This vulnerability resides in the kernel's memory management subsystem and exploits a weakness in how the system handles certain kernel memory operations. The issue manifests through improper validation of memory access controls during kernel execution, allowing malicious code to escalate privileges from a regular user context to kernel-level access. The vulnerability was tracked under Android ID A-63100473, indicating its classification within Google's internal vulnerability tracking system for Android security issues.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a race condition or memory corruption vulnerability that occurs when the kernel processes certain memory management operations. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious payloads that manipulate kernel memory structures, potentially causing the system to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically affects the kernel edl functionality which handles certain kernel-level memory operations and access controls. This type of flaw falls under CWE-119 which addresses improper access to memory locations, and more specifically relates to CWE-20 which covers improper input validation. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass kernel security mechanisms that normally prevent user-space processes from accessing kernel memory regions.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13174 is severe as it allows attackers to gain complete control over the affected Android device. Once exploited, the vulnerability provides a path for privilege escalation that could enable malicious actors to install persistent backdoors, extract sensitive data, modify system files, or disable security features. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the core kernel functionality that protects the entire operating system from unauthorized access. This vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications, compromised web content, or other privilege escalation techniques that leverage the kernel memory management flaw. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect entire device fleets if the vulnerability is widely exploited.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13174 require immediate patching of affected Android kernel versions through official security updates provided by device manufacturers and Google. Organizations should implement robust patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security fixes across all affected devices. The vulnerability can also be mitigated through kernel hardening techniques such as enabling kernel address space layout randomization, implementing stack canaries, and employing memory protection mechanisms. Additionally, security researchers should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and system log monitoring, as the vulnerability may be detected through unusual kernel memory access patterns. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that patches do not introduce regressions in device functionality while maintaining the security hardening measures that address the underlying kernel memory management flaw. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel security and the need for continuous security assessment of core operating system components as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's kernel-mode rootkit tactics.