CVE-2017-4932 in AirWatch Launcher
Summary
by MITRE
VMware AirWatch Launcher for Android prior to 3.2.2 contains a vulnerability that could allow an escalation of privilege from the launcher UI context menu to native UI functionality and privilege. Successful exploitation of this issue could result in an escalation of privilege.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-4932 affects VMware AirWatch Launcher for Android versions prior to 322, representing a critical privilege escalation flaw within the mobile enterprise management ecosystem. This vulnerability exists within the launcher UI context menu implementation, where insufficient access controls and privilege boundaries allow malicious actors to transition from the restricted launcher interface to full native UI functionality. The flaw stems from inadequate sandboxing mechanisms that fail to properly enforce privilege separation between the launcher component and underlying system resources, creating a pathway for unauthorized elevation of privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of improper access control checks within the AirWatch launcher framework. When users interact with the launcher UI context menu, the application fails to validate the privilege level of the calling process or enforce proper security boundaries. This weakness enables an attacker to manipulate the launcher interface in such a way that native system functions become accessible, effectively bypassing the intended security model. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the Android operating system, leveraging the trust relationship between the launcher component and the underlying system services.
From an operational impact perspective, successful exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain elevated privileges that would otherwise be restricted to system-level processes or privileged applications. This privilege escalation capability allows malicious actors to access sensitive system resources, modify critical application data, or potentially establish persistent backdoors within the managed device environment. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise settings where AirWatch is used for mobile device management, as compromised launcher components could provide attackers with unauthorized access to corporate data and systems. The vulnerability essentially undermines the security model of the mobile device management platform, potentially enabling broader attacks against the enterprise infrastructure.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of the AirWatch Launcher application to version 3.2.2 or later, which includes proper access control implementations and privilege boundary enforcement. Organizations should also implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that include regular security assessments and monitoring for unauthorized application modifications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control issues, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers local privilege escalation. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls and enhanced mobile threat detection capabilities to prevent exploitation attempts and maintain visibility into potential security incidents involving privileged escalation attacks.