CVE-2017-14901 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, QRD Android, with all Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, while processing the QCA_NL80211_VENDOR_SUBCMD_SET_TXPOWER_SCALE vendor command, in which attribute QCA_WLAN_VENDOR_ATTR_TXPOWER_SCALE contains fewer than 1 byte, a buffer overrun occurs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
This vulnerability exists within the Linux kernel implementation used in various Android and Firefox OS devices, specifically affecting Qualcomm-based systems through the QCA_NL80211_VENDOR_SUBCMD_SET_TXPOWER_SCALE vendor command. The flaw manifests when processing wireless power control attributes where the QCA_WLAN_VENDOR_ATTR_TXPOWER_SCALE field contains insufficient data length, creating a critical buffer overrun condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer overflow scenario where the kernel fails to properly validate input data length before copying it into fixed-size buffers, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the wireless subsystem's vendor command handling mechanism. When the QCA_NL80211_VENDOR_SUBCMD_SET_TXPOWER_SCALE command is processed, the kernel attempts to read the QCA_WLAN_VENDOR_ATTR_TXPOWER_SCALE attribute without verifying that the attribute contains sufficient data to prevent buffer overflow conditions. This type of vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. The flaw specifically impacts the Linux kernel's wireless networking subsystem and demonstrates poor input validation practices that are common in embedded systems and mobile device operating environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows for arbitrary code execution within the kernel context, potentially enabling full system compromise. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain root privileges on affected devices, leading to complete control over the mobile platform including access to sensitive user data, communication channels, and device functionality. The vulnerability affects multiple Android releases and Firefox OS versions, indicating a widespread impact across Qualcomm-based mobile platforms. This makes it particularly dangerous as it could affect a large number of devices simultaneously, with the potential for mass exploitation through wireless network-based attacks or through malicious applications that can trigger the vulnerable code path.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms within the kernel wireless subsystem. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying security patches that address the buffer overrun condition by ensuring proper validation of attribute lengths before buffer operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for kernel exploits and T1068 for local privilege escalation techniques. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional runtime protections such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and kernel memory protection mechanisms to reduce the exploitability of similar buffer overflow conditions. Regular security audits of kernel wireless subsystems and implementation of defensive programming practices should be enforced to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases.