CVE-2017-13307 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Upstream kernel pci sysfs. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-69128924.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2025
The CVE-2017-13307 vulnerability represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android kernel's upstream pci sysfs implementation. This vulnerability specifically affects the Linux kernel's handling of pci sysfs attributes and exposes a privilege escalation path that allows malicious actors to gain elevated system privileges. The issue stems from improper access controls and validation mechanisms within the kernel's pci subsystem, particularly when processing sysfs attributes related to pci device configuration and management.
The technical flaw manifests in the kernel's pci sysfs attribute handling code where insufficient permission checks and input validation allow unauthorized users to manipulate pci device configuration parameters. This vulnerability operates at the kernel level and specifically targets the way the kernel manages pci device information through the sysfs filesystem interface. When a user-space process attempts to write to certain pci sysfs attributes, the kernel fails to properly validate the caller's privileges, enabling an attacker to modify critical pci configuration registers that should only be accessible to privileged kernel components. The vulnerability is classified as a privilege escalation issue under CWE-276 which specifically addresses improper privilege management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows any local user to potentially escalate their privileges to root level access within the Android kernel environment. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious sysfs attribute writes that manipulate pci device configurations, potentially leading to full system compromise. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where Android devices typically run with limited user privileges but require kernel-level access for certain operations. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious applications or compromised user accounts, making it a significant security risk for Android devices.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves privilege escalation through kernel exploits. The flaw enables attackers to bypass normal access controls and gain unauthorized access to kernel-level functionality. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it operates within the legitimate kernel subsystem, making detection more difficult. Security researchers have noted that this type of kernel-level privilege escalation vulnerability can be particularly challenging to detect and remediate due to the complex nature of kernel operations and the limited visibility into kernel memory operations from user space.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13307 involve applying the appropriate kernel security patches that address the improper privilege checks in the pci sysfs implementation. Android device manufacturers should ensure that their kernel versions include the upstream fixes for this vulnerability, which typically involve strengthening access control checks and input validation for pci sysfs attributes. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous pci sysfs attribute modifications, as well as ensure that only trusted applications have access to pci device configuration interfaces. Additionally, regular kernel updates and security audits should be performed to identify and remediate similar privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the kernel's pci subsystem and other kernel components that may present similar access control issues.