CVE-2017-6275 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability exists in the Thermal Driver, where a missing bounds checking in the thermal driver could allow a read from an arbitrary kernel address. This issue is rated as moderate. Product: Pixel. Versions: N/A. Android ID: A-34702397. References: N-CVE-2017-6275.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/06/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-6275 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android kernel's thermal management subsystem. This issue manifests in the thermal driver component responsible for monitoring and managing device temperature through hardware sensors and cooling mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically arises from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the driver's code implementation, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by malicious actors to access sensitive kernel memory regions. The affected Pixel device represents a significant concern given the widespread adoption of this hardware platform and its integration with Android's core system components. The thermal driver serves as a crucial interface between hardware temperature monitoring and the operating system's power management policies, making it a valuable target for attackers seeking to extract confidential system information.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the absence of proper bounds validation when processing thermal sensor data or configuration parameters. When the thermal driver receives input from hardware sensors or user-space applications, it fails to validate the boundaries of memory access operations, potentially allowing an attacker to craft malicious input that causes the driver to read from arbitrary kernel memory addresses. This missing bounds checking creates a classic information disclosure scenario where an unprivileged user-space process could potentially access kernel memory contents, including sensitive data structures, cryptographic keys, or system configuration information. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level, meaning that successful exploitation would provide access to memory locations that are normally protected from user-space access, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-129 category of "Improper Validation of Array Index" and can be classified as a variant of the broader class of buffer over-read vulnerabilities that have been extensively documented in the cybersecurity community.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it could potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks within the Android ecosystem. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain access to kernel memory contents that might include sensitive information about the device's hardware configuration, current thermal states, or even cryptographic material used for device authentication. The moderate severity rating reflects the specific nature of the vulnerability, which requires careful exploitation but does not directly enable privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. However, the information gathered through this disclosure could be valuable for crafting more advanced attacks, such as those targeting other kernel components or exploiting additional vulnerabilities in the system. The vulnerability's presence in the thermal driver also raises concerns about the overall security posture of the Android kernel, as it indicates potential gaps in input validation across multiple subsystems. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.003 for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers might use information disclosure to build more effective attack vectors, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, where the leaked information could be leveraged to identify additional system weaknesses.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6275 should focus on implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the thermal driver component. Android security patches typically address such issues by adding validation routines that ensure all memory access operations remain within legitimate bounds, preventing unauthorized kernel memory reads. Device manufacturers and security researchers should prioritize updating affected Pixel devices with the appropriate kernel patches that implement proper bounds checking mechanisms. Additionally, system administrators and security teams should monitor for any anomalous behavior in thermal management subsystems that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be used as part of broader attack campaigns targeting Android devices. The fix should include comprehensive testing to ensure that the bounds checking implementation does not introduce performance regressions or break legitimate functionality of the thermal management system, while also maintaining the driver's ability to properly monitor and control device temperatures. This vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining rigorous security practices in kernel development and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of core system components that interface with hardware sensors and management systems.