CVE-2017-13227 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/15/2024
In the autofill service, the package name that is provided by the app process is trusted inappropriately. This could lead to information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13227 resides within the autofill service component of Android operating systems, representing a critical security flaw that undermines the integrity of the system's data protection mechanisms. This issue specifically targets the trust model implemented by the autofill service when processing package names from application processes, creating a pathway for unauthorized information disclosure without requiring any additional privileges or user interaction to exploit. The vulnerability manifests in the improper validation and trust of package identifiers that are transmitted from application processes to the autofill service, allowing potentially malicious applications to manipulate or spoof package information in ways that compromise system security.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from the autofill service's reliance on unverified package name information provided by applications without adequate validation mechanisms. When applications request autofill services, they provide package names that should normally be verified against the actual application identity. However, the vulnerable implementation fails to properly authenticate these package identifiers, creating a trust relationship that can be exploited by malicious actors. This trust violation occurs at the system level where the autofill service assumes the legitimacy of package names without cross-referencing them against established application manifests or security contexts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-284 which specifically addresses improper access control mechanisms, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive information through legitimate system services.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13227 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in Android's security architecture that could enable more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive data that applications have stored in the autofill service, potentially including personal information, passwords, or other confidential data that users have saved for automatic filling. The lack of required user interaction makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited silently in the background without the user's knowledge or consent. This flaw affects all versions of Android that implement the vulnerable autofill service, creating a widespread security risk across numerous devices and applications that rely on the system's autofill functionality. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that it operates at the system level rather than requiring application-specific exploitation methods.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13227 should focus on implementing proper package name validation and authentication mechanisms within the autofill service. System administrators and developers should ensure that all applications utilizing autofill services properly validate the authenticity of package identifiers before processing sensitive data. The recommended approach involves implementing cryptographic verification of package names against known application signatures and establishing stricter access controls for the autofill service. Additionally, regular system updates and patches should be deployed immediately upon availability to address this vulnerability. Organizations should also implement monitoring systems to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-284 emphasizes the need for proper access control implementations and reinforces the importance of least privilege principles in system design. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect potential data exfiltration attempts that might result from successful exploitation of this vulnerability, as the ATT&CK framework suggests that such information disclosure activities often precede more advanced attack phases.