CVE-2017-14875 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In the handler for the ioctl command VIDIOC_MSM_ISP_DUAL_HW_LPM_MODE in Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android before 2017-05-23, a heap overread vulnerability exists.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2023
The heap overread vulnerability identified in CVE-2017-14875 affects critical components of mobile operating systems including Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android implementations. This vulnerability resides within the ioctl command handler designated as VIDIOC_MSM_ISP_DUAL_HW_LPM_MODE, which manages dual hardware low power mode operations for image signal processors. The flaw represents a significant security weakness that could enable malicious actors to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the ioctl handler mechanism. When processing the VIDIOC_MSM_ISP_DUAL_HW_LPM_MODE command, the system fails to properly verify the size or content of incoming data structures before attempting to read from heap memory. This inadequate validation allows an attacker to craft malicious input that causes the system to read beyond allocated memory regions, resulting in a heap overread condition that can expose sensitive data or cause unexpected behavior in the system's image processing pipeline.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory access violations, as it provides potential attack vectors for privilege escalation and information disclosure attacks. An attacker with access to the affected system could leverage this heap overread to extract kernel memory contents, potentially revealing sensitive information such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system configuration details. The vulnerability particularly affects devices running vulnerable versions of Android and Firefox OS, making millions of mobile devices susceptible to exploitation, especially those utilizing Qualcomm MSM (Multi-System Module) platforms that implement the affected image signal processor functionality.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14875 should prioritize immediate patch deployment from device manufacturers and system vendors, as this vulnerability represents a critical security risk. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious ioctl command usage patterns and establish robust input validation mechanisms within their custom driver implementations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems, and could potentially be exploited through ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter usage, or T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing kernel memory protection mechanisms and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security updates to address similar vulnerabilities in the broader mobile ecosystem.