CVE-2017-17173 in Mate 9 Pro
Summary
by MITRE
Due to insufficient parameters verification GPU driver of Mate 9 Pro Huawei smart phones with the versions before LON-AL00B 8.0.0.356(C00) has an arbitrary memory free vulnerability. An attacker can tricks a user into installing a malicious application on the smart phone, and send given parameter to driver to release special kernel memory resource. Successful exploit may result in phone crash or arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17173 represents a critical security flaw in the GPU driver component of Huawei Mate 9 Pro smartphones running Android 8.0 operating system. This issue stems from inadequate parameter validation within the graphics processing unit driver implementation, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that could compromise the device's security integrity. The vulnerability specifically affects devices with firmware versions prior to LON-AL00B 8.0.0.356(C00), indicating a targeted scope of affected hardware and software configurations.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation mechanisms within the GPU driver's parameter processing functions. When a malicious application is installed and executed on the affected device, it can manipulate driver parameters to trigger unintended memory deallocation operations. This arbitrary memory freeing vulnerability operates at the kernel level, where the GPU driver processes graphics-related commands and manages memory resources. The flaw allows an attacker to send specially crafted parameters to the driver that result in the release of specific kernel memory segments, bypassing normal memory management controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple device instability, presenting a significant risk of arbitrary code execution and system compromise. Successful exploitation can lead to complete device takeover, enabling attackers to execute malicious code with kernel-level privileges. The phone crash scenario represents a denial-of-service condition that can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt device functionality, while the arbitrary code execution capability provides a pathway for persistent malware installation, data exfiltration, and full system control. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and undermines the security boundaries established by the Android operating system.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: Uninitialized Memory Read and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, representing memory safety issues that can lead to privilege escalation. The attack vector follows ATT&CK technique T1068: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, where adversaries exploit software vulnerabilities to gain elevated privileges. The vulnerability also maps to T1059: Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation may involve executing malicious code through compromised driver interfaces. Organizations should prioritize immediate firmware updates to address this issue, as the vulnerability exists in the underlying hardware driver rather than application software, making traditional application-level patches ineffective.
Mitigation strategies should focus on firmware updates from Huawei, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious memory allocation patterns. Device administrators should enforce strict security policies preventing installation of untrusted applications, while security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through endpoint detection and response systems. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure driver development practices and comprehensive security testing of low-level system components. Regular security assessments of mobile device drivers should be conducted to identify similar parameter validation weaknesses that could compromise device security and user privacy.