CVE-2017-13221 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Upstream kernel wifi driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-64709938.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13221 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android kernel's upstream wireless driver component. This issue resides in the kernel space implementation of wifi subsystem functionality, specifically affecting the wireless networking stack that operates at the core level of Android operating systems. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the kernel driver responsible for handling wireless network communications, creating a pathway for malicious actors to escalate their privileges from standard user level to kernel level access.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a flaw in how the kernel driver processes specific wireless communication packets or configuration parameters. When legitimate user-space applications interact with the wireless subsystem through kernel interfaces, malformed or specially crafted inputs can trigger memory corruption issues that allow attackers to manipulate kernel memory structures. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though the actual implementation involves kernel memory management rather than traditional user-space buffer issues. The flaw enables arbitrary code execution within kernel context, which provides complete system control and bypasses all standard Android security mechanisms including SELinux policies and application sandboxing.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13221 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Once an attacker achieves kernel-level access through this vulnerability, they can bypass all Android security controls, modify system files, install malicious applications without user consent, and potentially extract sensitive data from system memory. This vulnerability affects all Android versions that utilize the affected kernel driver implementation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited across a broad range of devices and system configurations. The attack surface is significant since wireless networking is a fundamental feature of mobile devices, and the vulnerability can be triggered through normal wireless operations without requiring special physical access or user interaction.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected kernel versions through official Android security updates. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for exploitation attempts and maintain up-to-date kernel security patches across all Android devices. The recommended approach includes applying the specific kernel patches provided by Google and device manufacturers, implementing network traffic monitoring to detect anomalous wireless communication patterns, and maintaining strict device management policies. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and kernel exploitation methods, making it particularly concerning for threat actors seeking persistent access to mobile devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of kernel security in mobile operating systems and highlights the necessity of thorough security testing for core system components that interface with hardware drivers.