CVE-2017-8260 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, due to a type downcast, a value may improperly pass validation and cause an out of bounds write later.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8260 represents a critical memory safety issue affecting Qualcomm Snapdragon processors integrated into numerous android devices. This flaw exists within the Linux kernel implementation used across Qualcomm Android platforms and stems from improper type handling during kernel operations. The vulnerability manifests as a type downcast error that allows invalid data to bypass validation mechanisms, ultimately leading to potential memory corruption scenarios. The affected systems include all Qualcomm products utilizing Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum that incorporate the Linux kernel framework.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of data type conversions within kernel memory management operations. When the system processes certain input parameters, a type downcast occurs that fails to properly validate the data integrity before proceeding with subsequent operations. This downcast allows values that should be rejected based on their type characteristics to pass through validation checks. The flaw creates a condition where an attacker can manipulate input data to cause the kernel to write data beyond the bounds of allocated memory regions. The vulnerability specifically impacts memory allocation and management functions where type safety mechanisms are insufficient to prevent unauthorized memory access patterns.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8260 extends beyond typical memory corruption scenarios, as it provides potential pathways for privilege escalation and system compromise. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could manipulate kernel memory structures to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially gaining full system control. The out-of-bounds write condition creates opportunities for data corruption that could affect critical kernel components, leading to system instability, denial of service conditions, or complete system takeover. Mobile devices utilizing affected Qualcomm chipsets become vulnerable to attacks that could compromise user data, enable persistent backdoors, or facilitate further exploitation against the device's security boundaries.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8260 should focus on both immediate patch deployment and architectural improvements to prevent similar type handling issues. Qualcomm released kernel updates addressing this vulnerability through proper type validation and enhanced input sanitization mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize applying the latest kernel patches and firmware updates provided by device manufacturers to remediate this issue. Additionally, system administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect anomalous memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 which specifically addresses improper validation of array indices and CWE-787 which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability would likely map to ATT&CK technique T1068 which involves local privilege escalation and T1059 which encompasses command and scripting interpreter usage for exploitation purposes.