CVE-2017-2697 in GT3
Summary
by MITRE
The goldeneye driver in NMO-L31C432B120 and earlier versions,NEM-L21C432B100 and earlier versions,NEM-L51C432B120 and earlier versions,KNT-AL10C746B160 and earlier versions,VNS-L21C185B142 and earlier versions,CAM-L21C10B130 and earlier versions,CAM-L21C185B141 and earlier versions has buffer overflow vulnerability. An attacker with the root privilege of the Android system can tricks a user into installing a malicious application on the smart phone, and send given parameter to smart phone to crash the system or escalate privilege.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The goldeneye driver vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2697 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting multiple Android device models from various manufacturers including Huawei, Honor, and other OEMs. This vulnerability resides within the kernel-level driver component that manages specific hardware functionalities, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at the most privileged system level. The affected devices span several firmware versions, indicating this is not an isolated incident but rather a widespread issue affecting multiple product lines. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a buffer than it can hold, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations. The goldeneye driver's exposure to user-controlled input through malicious applications creates a severe attack surface that can be exploited by adversaries with root privileges on the target system.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first gain root access to an Android device, which typically involves leveraging other pre-existing vulnerabilities or social engineering techniques to convince users to install malicious applications. Once root privileges are obtained, the attacker can craft a malicious application that specifically targets the goldeneye driver by sending crafted parameters that exceed the buffer capacity. The buffer overflow occurs when the driver fails to properly validate input parameters before processing them, allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory structures including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable behavior where the system may crash or more dangerously, allow privilege escalation to the highest system level. The vulnerability's impact is amplified because it operates within the kernel space where the system's most sensitive operations occur, making it a prime target for attackers seeking persistent system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2697 extends beyond simple system crashes to encompass full system compromise and potential data exfiltration capabilities. When the buffer overflow occurs, it can cause the Android system to become unstable and crash, resulting in denial of service conditions that disrupt normal device functionality. However, the more concerning aspect is the privilege escalation potential that allows attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources that should be restricted to legitimate system processes. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which describes local privilege escalation and T1059 which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers can leverage the compromised driver to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The affected device models represent a significant portion of the Android ecosystem, particularly in regions where these manufacturers have strong market presence, making this vulnerability attractive to threat actors seeking widespread impact. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond the initial installation of the malicious application, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks or when deployed through compromised app stores.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate patching and defensive measures. Device manufacturers must prioritize updating the affected goldeneye driver components with proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms that prevent buffer overflows from occurring. The implementation of stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and other exploit mitigation techniques should be employed to make exploitation more difficult even if the underlying vulnerability exists. Users should be advised to avoid installing applications from untrusted sources and to keep their devices updated with the latest security patches. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious application installations and implement application whitelisting policies where possible. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices and comprehensive security testing of kernel-level components, particularly those that handle user input. Organizations should implement continuous monitoring for similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in other system drivers and ensure that all firmware updates are properly validated before deployment. Security researchers should continue to identify and report similar vulnerabilities in embedded systems to improve overall device security posture. The ATT&CK framework suggests implementing defensive measures such as process monitoring and anomaly detection to identify potential exploitation attempts. Given the nature of kernel-level vulnerabilities, regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors.