CVE-2017-17767 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, the IL client may free a buffer OMX Video Encoder Component and then subsequently access the already freed buffer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17767 represents a critical memory safety issue affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon processors integrated into numerous Android devices. This flaw exists within the Linux kernel implementation used by Qualcomm's Android Common Audio Framework, specifically impacting the OMX Video Encoder Component functionality. The vulnerability manifests when the IL client component attempts to manage memory buffers during video encoding operations, creating a dangerous scenario where buffer management becomes inconsistent and potentially exploitable.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper buffer lifecycle management within the OMX video encoding subsystem. When the IL client component frees a memory buffer allocated for video encoding operations, it subsequently attempts to access that same buffer at a later stage in the execution flow. This classic use-after-free condition occurs because the component fails to properly track buffer states or maintain appropriate synchronization mechanisms between buffer allocation and deallocation phases. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates at the kernel level within the Android Common Audio Framework, giving attackers direct access to system memory management functions that control multimedia processing capabilities.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for affected devices as it could enable arbitrary code execution within the kernel context. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially gain elevated privileges to execute malicious code with system-level permissions, compromising the device's integrity and confidentiality. The vulnerability affects a broad range of Qualcomm Snapdragon devices including those found in smartphones, tablets, and other mobile platforms that utilize the Linux kernel with Qualcomm's Android Common Audio Framework implementation. This widespread impact means that numerous consumer and enterprise devices could be at risk, particularly those running Android versions from the CAF framework that incorporate the vulnerable kernel components.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which describes the use-after-free condition, and represents a clear violation of proper memory management practices in kernel space. From an attack perspective, this flaw maps to several ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation and execution through kernel exploits. The vulnerability's exploitation potential increases when considering that video encoding operations are frequently performed during normal device usage, providing multiple opportunities for attackers to trigger the condition. Additionally, the fact that this affects the Linux kernel implementation means that any exploit developed could potentially bypass standard Android security controls, making it particularly dangerous for mobile device security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems through official security updates from device manufacturers. Qualcomm has released patches addressing this specific issue in their kernel implementations, and users should ensure their devices receive the latest security updates. System administrators should monitor for the availability of patches and implement them promptly across all affected devices. Organizations using these devices should consider implementing additional security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts, particularly around video encoding operations and kernel memory management activities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper buffer management validation in kernel components and reinforces the need for comprehensive security testing of multimedia processing frameworks in mobile operating systems.