CVE-2017-18143 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 845, SD 850, on a secure device, PD dumps are collected when debugging is not enabled.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
This vulnerability exists in Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile chipsets including the SD 845 and SD 850 processors found in Android devices released before the 2018-04-05 security patch level. The flaw allows for the collection of privileged data dumps or pd dumps even when debugging features are disabled on secure devices, creating a significant security risk. The vulnerability specifically affects Android implementations on these Qualcomm chipsets where the secure execution environment does not properly enforce access controls for privileged data collection mechanisms.
The technical implementation involves the privilege escalation mechanism within the Qualcomm Snapdragon SoC's secure processing environment. When debugging is disabled, the system should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive privileged data structures and memory regions. However, the flaw allows attackers to extract these pd dumps through mechanisms that should be restricted. This represents a failure in the secure boot and privilege separation processes that are fundamental to Android's security architecture. The vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the hardware-based security controls that should prevent unauthorized access to sensitive system information even when software-level protections are disabled.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it provides attackers with access to privileged data that could include cryptographic keys, secure boot parameters, or other sensitive system information. This access could enable further exploitation including full system compromise, bypass of encryption mechanisms, or extraction of device-specific secrets. The vulnerability affects devices where security is paramount, such as enterprise devices or those handling sensitive information, making it particularly dangerous in corporate or government environments where device security is critical. Attackers could leverage this to gain persistent access to devices or to perform advanced persistent threat operations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on applying the security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, which address the privilege escalation in the secure execution environment. Organizations should ensure all devices are updated to security patch level 2018-04-05 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Additional controls could include monitoring for unauthorized data collection activities and implementing device integrity checks to detect potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and may map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access. The issue highlights the importance of proper secure element implementation and demonstrates that hardware-level security controls must be robust even when software-level protections are disabled.