CVE-2017-18072 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile and Snapdragon Wear MDM9206, MDM9607, MDM9640, MDM9650, QCA4531, QCA6174A, QCA6564, QCA6574, QCA6574AU, QCA6584, QCA6584AU, QCA9377, QCA9378, QCA9379, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 410/12, SD 425, SD 427, SD 430, SD 435, SD 450, SD 615/16/SD 415, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 808, SD 810, SD 820, SD 835, SD 845, SDM630, SDM636, SDM660, Snapdragon_High_Med_2016, the probe requests originated from user's phone contains the information elements which specifies the supported wifi features. This shall impact the user's privacy if someone sniffs the probe requests originated by this DUT. Hence, control the presence of which information elements is supported.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-18072 represents a privacy exposure in Android devices utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets prior to the 2018-04-05 security patch level. This issue specifically affects a broad range of mobile and wearable devices including various MDM and QCA chipsets along with numerous Snapdragon SoC variants. The flaw resides in how wireless probe requests are constructed and transmitted by these devices, creating an information leakage mechanism that can be exploited by network observers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the inclusion of specific information elements within wireless probe request frames that reveal detailed WiFi feature capabilities supported by the device. These probe requests are automatically generated by the device's wireless stack when scanning for available networks, and they contain metadata about the device's WiFi hardware capabilities, supported protocols, and feature sets. This information includes details about the device's WiFi chipset capabilities, supported security protocols, and other technical specifications that can be used to fingerprint the device and potentially identify its exact model and configuration.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass device identification and tracking capabilities that could be leveraged by malicious actors. When an attacker captures these probe requests through network sniffing operations, they can extract comprehensive information about the device's WiFi capabilities, which may include supported encryption standards, channel widths, and other technical specifications. This data can be used for device fingerprinting, targeted attacks, or to build detailed profiles of device users, particularly in scenarios where multiple probe requests are captured over time.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and represents a weakness in the device's wireless communication protocols. The issue demonstrates how seemingly benign network discovery mechanisms can become privacy vectors when they inadvertently expose detailed technical information about the device. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1592 (Get Physical Access) and T1046 (Network Service Scanning) as it enables passive reconnaissance capabilities that can be used to gather intelligence about target devices without requiring direct interaction or active exploitation.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve implementing proper control over information element inclusion in probe requests. Device manufacturers and system administrators should ensure that only essential information is included in probe requests, and that detailed technical specifications are not exposed to unauthorized network observers. This can be achieved through firmware updates that modify the wireless stack behavior, implementing network filtering rules, or configuring devices to use more privacy-focused WiFi scanning behaviors. Additionally, users should be aware of the risks associated with unsecured wireless networks and consider using VPNs or other privacy protection mechanisms when operating in potentially hostile network environments. The security patch released in April 2018 addressed this specific issue by modifying the probe request construction process to prevent the inclusion of detailed WiFi feature information elements that could compromise user privacy.