CVE-2017-6290 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before the 2018-06-05 security patch level, NVIDIA TLK TrustZone contains a possible out of bounds write due to an integer overflow which could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction not needed for exploitation. This issue is rated as high. Version: N/A. Android: A-69559414. Reference: N-CVE-2017-6290.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6290 represents a critical security flaw within the NVIDIA TLK TrustZone component of Android systems, affecting devices prior to the 2018-06-05 security patch level. This issue resides in the TrustZone environment which serves as a secure processing area designed to protect sensitive operations and data from potential threats. The vulnerability manifests as an integer overflow condition that can result in an out-of-bounds write operation, fundamentally compromising the integrity of the secure execution environment. The flaw specifically impacts the TrustZone's handling of memory operations where integer overflow conditions can occur during calculations related to buffer sizing or array indexing, leading to memory corruption in the secure domain.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow that occurs within the TrustZone's memory management routines, particularly when processing data structures that require precise boundary calculations. When an integer overflow occurs, the resulting value can exceed the maximum representable value for the data type, causing the system to interpret the overflowed value as a negative number or a value that extends beyond the intended memory boundaries. This condition creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate memory locations outside of the intended buffer boundaries, potentially allowing them to overwrite critical system data or code segments. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow condition, which directly maps to the underlying flaw in the integer arithmetic operations within the TrustZone component.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6290 is particularly severe as it enables local privilege escalation without requiring any additional execution privileges or user interaction for exploitation. This means that an attacker with minimal privileges, such as those of a standard Android application, can leverage this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges within the TrustZone environment. The absence of user interaction requirements makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited automatically without any human intervention, potentially allowing for persistent access to the secure processing environment. The exploitation of this vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass the security boundaries that the TrustZone is designed to maintain, potentially leading to complete system compromise and access to sensitive cryptographic keys, secure data, or privileged system operations.
The implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple privilege escalation as it fundamentally undermines the security model of the TrustZone architecture, which is specifically designed to provide a secure environment for sensitive operations. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the secure world environment, potentially allowing them to inject malicious code or modify critical system components that should remain protected from unauthorized access. This represents a critical failure in the security boundary enforcement mechanisms of the TrustZone, as the integer overflow condition allows for memory corruption that can be leveraged to achieve unauthorized access to secure processing capabilities. The vulnerability's classification as high severity reflects the potential for complete system compromise and the ability to bypass multiple layers of security controls that are typically enforced by the TrustZone architecture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6290 primarily focus on applying the Android security patches released on or after June 5, 2018, which contain fixes specifically addressing the integer overflow condition in the TLK TrustZone implementation. Organizations should ensure that all affected Android devices receive the appropriate security updates, particularly those running Android versions prior to the patched releases. The patch implementation addresses the root cause by correcting the integer overflow handling in the TrustZone memory management routines, preventing the out-of-bounds write conditions that enable privilege escalation. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of the specific TrustZone memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The fix aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques by addressing the underlying memory corruption mechanisms that enable local privilege escalation without user interaction, thereby reducing the attack surface for this specific class of vulnerabilities.