CVE-2017-8262 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, in some memory allocation and free functions, a race condition can potentially occur leading to a Use After Free condition.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8262 represents a critical race condition flaw affecting Qualcomm products that utilize Android-based systems with Linux kernel implementations. This issue manifests within memory management functions where improper synchronization mechanisms allow for concurrent access patterns that can result in memory corruption. The vulnerability specifically impacts devices manufactured by Qualcomm and deployed with Android operating systems through the Code Aurora Forum CAF framework, creating widespread exposure across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems that rely on Qualcomm's hardware and software infrastructure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation operations within the Linux kernel implementation used by Qualcomm's Android devices. When multiple threads or processes attempt to access the same memory region simultaneously during allocation and deallocation cycles, the lack of adequate synchronization primitives creates a window where memory can be freed while still being referenced by other processes. This race condition scenario directly leads to use-after-free conditions where subsequent memory access operations target deallocated memory blocks, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The flaw resides in the kernel's memory management subsystem where concurrent access to shared memory resources lacks proper locking mechanisms to prevent simultaneous read and write operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack vectors and system components within Qualcomm-based Android devices. An attacker exploiting this race condition could potentially escalate privileges, execute malicious code with kernel-level permissions, or cause denial of service conditions that render devices inoperable. The vulnerability's widespread nature means that virtually all Qualcomm-powered Android devices from affected releases are at risk, including smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices that utilize Qualcomm's Snapdragon processors. This exposure creates significant security implications for enterprise environments where these devices handle sensitive data, and for consumers who rely on mobile devices for personal and financial transactions. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in automotive applications and industrial IoT deployments where Qualcomm chipsets are commonly integrated.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8262 require immediate attention from device manufacturers and end users through comprehensive patch management programs. Qualcomm has released security updates addressing this vulnerability, which should be deployed immediately across affected devices to prevent exploitation. System administrators should implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to track related attack patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362 which specifically addresses race conditions in concurrent programming, and it maps to ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing memory safety mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and control flow integrity to add additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to verify the effectiveness of implemented mitigations and to identify potential additional vulnerabilities within the device ecosystem.