CVE-2017-5538 in Phone
Summary
by MITRE
The kbase_dispatch function in arm/t7xx/r5p0/mali_kbase_core_linux.c in the GPU driver on Samsung devices with M(6.0) and N(7.0) software and Exynos AP chipsets allows attackers to have unspecified impact via unknown vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds read, aka SVE-2016-6362.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/13/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5538 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the Mali GPU driver component of Samsung devices running Android 6.0 and 7.0 operating systems. This issue specifically affects devices utilizing Exynos application processors, where the kernel-based GPU driver implementation contains a memory access violation that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability resides in the kbase_dispatch function located within the arm/t7xx/r5p0/mali_kbase_core_linux.c source file, making it a kernel-level security weakness that directly impacts the device's graphics processing capabilities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the GPU driver's dispatch mechanism, which processes commands and operations sent to the Mali GPU hardware. When the kbase_dispatch function receives certain malformed or crafted input parameters, it fails to validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations. This memory safety issue creates an out-of-bounds read condition that can potentially expose sensitive kernel memory contents to unauthorized access. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the vulnerability could lead to information disclosure, system instability, or even privilege escalation depending on the specific execution context and exploitation method. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5538 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a potential pathway for attackers to gain deeper system access on affected Samsung devices. Mobile devices running Android 6.0 and 7.0 with Exynos chipsets become vulnerable to exploitation through various attack vectors that could include malicious applications or compromised system components. The vulnerability's presence in the GPU driver layer means that exploitation could occur during normal device operations when graphics-intensive applications are running, making it particularly dangerous for end users. The fact that this vulnerability was tracked under SVE-2016-6362 indicates it was recognized as part of Samsung's security vulnerability evaluation process, highlighting the severity of the issue within the mobile ecosystem.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on software updates and patches provided by Samsung to address the specific kernel-level flaw in the Mali GPU driver implementation. Device users should immediately apply the latest security patches released by Samsung to protect against potential exploitation of this vulnerability. System administrators and security professionals should monitor for the presence of affected devices within their environments and ensure proper patch management protocols are followed. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust kernel memory safety mechanisms and proper input validation in embedded systems, particularly in mobile device architectures where GPU drivers operate with elevated privileges. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in other GPU driver implementations that may share similar architectural weaknesses. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing in mobile device kernel components and highlights the intersection of hardware-software security concerns in modern mobile platforms.