CVE-2017-18128 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 845, SD 850, improper access control while configuring MPU protecting error correction registers may potentially lead to exposure of related secured data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-18128 represents a critical access control flaw within the Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platform architecture that affects Android devices prior to the security patch level of April 5, 2018. This issue specifically targets the Memory Protection Unit (MPU) configuration process that governs error correction registers, creating a pathway for unauthorized data exposure through improper access control mechanisms. The vulnerability resides in the hardware security implementation of Qualcomm's Snapdragon 845 and 850 processors, which are widely deployed in high-end mobile devices and are subject to the Common Weakness Enumeration standard CWE-284, which classifies improper access control as a fundamental security flaw. The MPU is designed to protect critical system registers and memory regions from unauthorized access, yet this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in the access control enforcement mechanism that allows malicious actors to potentially bypass these protections.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the improper configuration of MPU settings that govern error correction registers within the Snapdragon chipset architecture. These error correction registers contain sensitive data related to memory management and system integrity that should remain protected from unauthorized access. When the MPU fails to properly enforce access restrictions during the configuration of these registers, it creates an opportunity for privilege escalation and data exposure. The flaw operates at the hardware level within the processor's memory management subsystem, making it particularly challenging to detect and remediate through software patches alone. This type of vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1068, which involves exploiting local privilege escalation to gain elevated system access, and T1552, which encompasses data protection mechanisms that can be bypassed through hardware-level flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure to encompass potential system compromise and information disclosure that could affect user privacy and device security. Attackers exploiting this flaw could potentially access sensitive memory regions that contain cryptographic keys, authentication credentials, or other protected system data that should remain isolated from unauthorized access. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the specified security patch, indicating that the flaw existed in the baseline system implementation for an extended period, allowing for potential exploitation across a wide range of deployed devices. This represents a significant concern for enterprise environments where mobile device security is paramount, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to extract confidential information from compromised devices and potentially use this data for further attacks or unauthorized access to corporate networks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-18128 primarily focus on applying the security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, which address the MPU configuration issues that allow unauthorized access to error correction registers. System administrators and device users should prioritize updating their devices to the latest security patches, particularly those released on or after April 5, 2018, to ensure that the hardware-level access control mechanisms are properly enforced. Additionally, organizations should implement comprehensive device management policies that enforce automatic security updates and monitor for vulnerable devices within their networks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of hardware-level security implementations and highlights the need for robust access control mechanisms that cannot be easily bypassed through configuration flaws. Security professionals should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions that can detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of the specific hardware and software configurations that are vulnerable to this class of attack, particularly in environments where mobile device security is critical to overall network protection.