CVE-2017-6247 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the NVIDIA sound driver could enable a local malicious application to execute arbitrary code within the context of the kernel. This issue is rated as High due to the possibility of local arbitrary code execution in a privileged process in the kernel. Product: Android. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-34386301. References: N-CVE-2017-6247.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
This vulnerability resides within the NVIDIA sound driver component of Android systems, representing a critical elevation of privilege flaw that allows local malicious applications to execute arbitrary code with kernel-level privileges. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the audio driver subsystem, creating a pathway for privilege escalation attacks. The issue affects Android devices that utilize NVIDIA audio hardware components, where the sound driver operates with elevated privileges to manage audio processing and hardware interaction. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can leverage the kernel-level execution context to gain full system control, potentially enabling them to modify system files, install malicious applications, or extract sensitive data from the device.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2017-6247 occurs through improper validation of user-supplied data within the audio driver's kernel space implementation. This flaw typically manifests when the driver fails to properly sanitize input parameters passed from user-space applications to kernel-space functions responsible for audio processing. The vulnerability creates a condition where a malicious application can craft specific input sequences that trigger buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other memory safety issues within the kernel driver. This misconfiguration allows the attacker to manipulate kernel memory structures and execute arbitrary code with the highest privilege level, bypassing normal Android security boundaries that typically isolate user applications from system-level operations. The flaw aligns with CWE-119, which addresses improper access to memory, and represents a classic example of kernel-level privilege escalation through driver vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally compromises the security model of Android devices running affected NVIDIA audio drivers. Local attackers can leverage this vulnerability to perform persistent system compromise, install rootkits, or establish backdoor access that persists across reboots. The attack surface is particularly concerning because audio drivers are frequently accessed by various applications, creating multiple potential entry points for exploitation. This vulnerability also enables attackers to manipulate audio output, potentially creating covert channels for data exfiltration or command execution. The risk is amplified in environments where users may unknowingly install malicious applications that exploit this flaw, as the attack requires no special privileges or network access beyond local application execution. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to privilege escalation techniques and can be leveraged for persistence and defense evasion.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6247 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and system administrators, as the vulnerability affects the core audio subsystem of Android devices. The most effective immediate solution involves applying security patches provided by NVIDIA and Android vendors that address the input validation issues within the sound driver. Device manufacturers should prioritize rolling out firmware updates that contain corrected driver implementations, particularly for devices with affected NVIDIA audio hardware components. Additionally, system administrators should implement application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can access audio processing capabilities, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure driver development practices, emphasizing the need for proper input validation, memory safety checks, and privilege separation in kernel-level components. Organizations should consider implementing runtime monitoring and anomaly detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts through unusual kernel access patterns or memory manipulation activities.