CVE-2017-2698 in Huawei
Summary
by MITRE
The ddr_devfreq driver in versions earlier than GRA-UL00C00B197 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2023
The CVE-2017-2698 vulnerability resides within the ddr_devfreq driver component of Android systems, specifically affecting versions prior to GRA-UL00C00B197. This driver manages dynamic differential read frequency adjustments for memory subsystems in mobile devices, serving as a critical interface between hardware memory controllers and the operating system's power management frameworks. The vulnerability manifests as a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the driver processes user-supplied parameters without adequate bounds checking or input validation mechanisms. The flaw exists in the kernel-level memory management subsystem where malicious input parameters can exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to memory corruption that fundamentally compromises system stability and security integrity.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to possess root privileges on the Android system, which represents a significant privilege escalation vector within the attack chain. This prerequisite aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which describes privilege escalation through kernel exploits, and CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions in stack-based memory allocations. The malicious application would need to be installed by a user through social engineering or other means, making this a sophisticated attack requiring initial compromise of the device's user trust. Once installed, the application can trigger the vulnerable driver by sending specifically crafted parameters that cause the buffer overflow to occur during the processing of memory frequency adjustment requests.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially enable full privilege escalation attacks. When the buffer overflow occurs, it can overwrite critical kernel memory structures, including function pointers or return addresses, allowing an attacker to redirect execution flow and gain elevated privileges. This represents a severe security compromise that could enable attackers to bypass Android's security model entirely, potentially accessing all device data, installing additional malicious software, or even modifying the operating system itself. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in mobile environments where devices often contain sensitive personal and corporate data, making this a high-value target for both cybercriminals and state-sponsored actors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-2698 should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected Android versions, with particular attention to devices running kernel versions prior to GRA-UL00C00B197. System administrators should implement comprehensive device monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous memory management patterns or unexpected kernel crashes. The vulnerability highlights the importance of kernel-level input validation and proper bounds checking in security-critical drivers, as recommended by the CERT/CC Secure Coding Standards for kernel development. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing and privilege separation mechanisms to limit the damage that can occur even if exploitation succeeds, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1055 for process injection and privilege escalation prevention. Additionally, regular security audits of kernel drivers and memory management components should be conducted to identify similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities that may exist in other system components, following the principles outlined in the CWE hierarchy for memory safety issues.