CVE-2017-6426 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Qualcomm SPMI driver. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-33644474. References: QC-CR#1106842.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6426 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Qualcomm System Power Management Interface (SPMI) driver component of the Android kernel ecosystem. This vulnerability resides in the low-level hardware abstraction layer that manages power management operations for Qualcomm-based mobile devices, making it particularly dangerous as it operates at a fundamental system level where privilege escalation and data exposure risks are maximized. The SPMI driver serves as a critical interface between the operating system and hardware power management units, handling sensitive power configuration data and system state information that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient input validation and improper access control mechanisms within the SPMI driver's ioctl (input/output control) handling functions. Specifically, the vulnerability occurs when the driver fails to properly validate user-supplied parameters during certain privileged operations, allowing malicious applications or compromised processes to extract sensitive kernel memory contents through crafted ioctl calls. This weakness aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and CWE-264, addressing permissions, privileges, and access controls. The flaw essentially creates a window through which unauthorized entities can access kernel memory regions containing confidential information such as device identifiers, power management configurations, and potentially cryptographic keys used for secure communications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with valuable reconnaissance data that can be leveraged for further exploitation. Attackers can utilize the disclosed information to better understand the target device's power management architecture, potentially identifying additional vulnerabilities within the same hardware abstraction layer or related kernel components. This information can be particularly valuable for advanced persistent threat actors seeking to develop more sophisticated attack vectors. The vulnerability affects all Android devices running kernel versions that incorporate the vulnerable Qualcomm SPMI driver, making it widespread across numerous device models from various manufacturers who rely on Qualcomm's hardware components. According to the Android ID A-33644474, this vulnerability was particularly concerning because it existed in the core kernel components that are essential for device operation, meaning that exploitation could potentially compromise the entire device security posture.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-6426 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Android kernel versions through security updates from device manufacturers. Organizations and users should prioritize applying the latest security patches released by Qualcomm and device vendors, as these updates typically include proper input validation mechanisms and access control improvements within the SPMI driver. The fix generally involves implementing proper parameter validation checks, strengthening access control measures, and ensuring that only authorized processes can access sensitive kernel interfaces. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for any unauthorized access attempts or anomalous behavior in kernel memory usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and credential access, as it allows attackers to extract sensitive information from the kernel space that could be used to further compromise the system. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of kernel-level security hardening and the need for comprehensive security testing of hardware abstraction layers that interface with critical system components.