CVE-2017-6258 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
NVIDIA libnvmmlite_audio.so contains an elevation of privilege vulnerability when running in media server which may cause an out of bounds write and could lead to local code execution in a privileged process. This issue is rated as high. Product: Android. Version: N/A. Android: A-38027496. Reference: N-CVE-2017-6258.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6258 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within NVIDIA's libnvmmlite_audio.so library component that operates within the Android media server environment. This issue specifically affects Android devices running on NVIDIA Tegra processors and demonstrates how multimedia processing components can become attack vectors for privilege escalation. The vulnerability exists in the audio processing subsystem that handles multimedia content, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges. The flaw manifests when the media server process processes certain audio data, allowing for memory corruption that could be exploited to gain root-level access to the device. This represents a significant security concern as it directly impacts the integrity of the Android operating system's security model.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from an out-of-bounds write condition within the libnvmmlite_audio.so library, which is part of NVIDIA's multimedia processing framework. When the media server processes audio content through this library, improper bounds checking allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer. This memory corruption can be strategically manipulated to overwrite critical process memory locations, potentially including function pointers or return addresses. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write according to the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which specifically addresses situations where software writes to memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it occurs within a privileged process context, meaning that successful exploitation would grant the attacker the same elevated privileges as the media server itself.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6258 extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass potential full device compromise and persistent access. Attackers who successfully exploit this vulnerability can execute arbitrary code within the privileged media server context, potentially allowing them to install malicious applications, modify system files, or establish backdoors that persist across reboots. The vulnerability affects devices running Android versions prior to the security patches released in A-38027496, which represents a significant portion of devices utilizing NVIDIA Tegra processors in the Android ecosystem. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 Privilege Escalation through the use of software vulnerabilities to gain higher privileges, and specifically demonstrates how multimedia processing components can serve as attack surfaces for lateral movement and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate implementation of security patches provided by NVIDIA and device manufacturers, as the flaw exists in the core multimedia processing libraries that are fundamental to Android device operation. Organizations and users should prioritize updating their devices to versions that include the patched libnvmmlite_audio.so library, which implements proper bounds checking and memory management. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any unauthorized modifications to multimedia processing components and implement security monitoring that can detect anomalous behavior in the media server process. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in multimedia libraries, particularly around buffer management and input validation, as outlined in industry standards such as the CERT Secure Coding Standards. Device manufacturers should implement additional security measures such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult, while also considering the broader implications of having privileged processes handle untrusted multimedia content without adequate sandboxing mechanisms.