CVE-2017-17769 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Information leakage in Android for MSM, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android can occur in the audio driver.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/18/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-17769 represents a critical information disclosure flaw affecting multiple Android-based platforms including MSM variants, Firefox OS for MSM, and QRD Android implementations. This issue resides within the audio driver component of these operating systems, specifically exposing sensitive data through improper memory handling mechanisms. The vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with low-level driver code where insufficient input validation and memory protection measures can lead to unauthorized data exposure. The affected platforms share common hardware architectures that utilize similar audio driver implementations, creating a widespread impact across various mobile device ecosystems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the audio driver subsystem where sensitive information may be inadvertently exposed through memory regions that should remain protected. Attackers can potentially leverage this flaw to access kernel memory locations containing confidential data, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system configuration details. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where privilege separation is typically maintained, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass standard security boundaries. This type of information leakage aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper information exposure, and demonstrates how driver-level flaws can create persistent security risks that affect the entire operating system.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-17769 extends beyond simple data exposure, as it can enable more sophisticated attacks including privilege escalation and system compromise. Mobile devices running affected software versions become vulnerable to attackers who can extract sensitive information from memory dumps or through direct memory access techniques. The vulnerability affects devices that rely on Qualcomm MSM processors and similar hardware platforms, creating a substantial attack surface across numerous smartphone and tablet models. Organizations deploying these systems face potential data breaches, intellectual property theft, and compliance violations that can result in significant financial and reputational damage. The vulnerability's persistence in multiple operating system variants indicates a systemic issue in how audio driver components handle memory allocation and access control.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment across all affected platforms, including Android updates for MSM variants, Firefox OS patches for MSM implementations, and QRD Android security fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all devices receive timely security updates. The remediation process involves updating audio driver components to properly enforce memory access controls and implement proper input validation mechanisms. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any additional memory exposure issues within similar driver components and establish secure coding practices that prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future implementations. The fix should align with industry best practices for kernel security and memory management as outlined in various security frameworks including those referenced in the ATT&CK framework's system and kernel level access categories.