CVE-2017-8264 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A userspace process can cause a Denial of Service in the camera driver in all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8264 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the camera driver component of Qualcomm Snapdragon processors integrated into Android devices. This issue affects all Qualcomm products that utilize the Linux kernel and Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum, creating a widespread impact across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems. The flaw exists in the userspace process execution environment where malicious or malformed input can trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying camera driver subsystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and improper error handling within the camera driver module. When a userspace process attempts to interact with the camera hardware through the Linux kernel interface, the driver fails to properly sanitize or validate the parameters passed during camera operations. This weakness allows an attacker to craft specific input sequences that cause the driver to enter an invalid state, ultimately leading to system instability or complete system freeze. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level where camera driver components handle user requests, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system stability and device usability. The flaw can be triggered through normal camera application usage or through specially crafted malicious applications that exploit the improper validation mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for end users and system administrators alike. The denial of service condition means that devices may become unresponsive during camera operations, potentially requiring complete device reboot to restore functionality. This issue affects all Android versions utilizing Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets, including devices from major manufacturers such as Samsung, Google Pixel, and various other smartphone and tablet models. The impact extends beyond simple inconvenience as users may lose access to critical camera functionality during important moments, and in enterprise environments, this could lead to productivity losses and device management complications. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires no special privileges to exploit, making it accessible to any application running on the device.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-8264 should focus on both immediate patching and operational hardening measures. Qualcomm released security updates that addressed the input validation issues within the camera driver, requiring device manufacturers to implement these patches through regular software updates. The recommended approach includes applying the latest kernel-level patches and ensuring that all camera-related applications undergo proper input validation testing. Organizations should implement application whitelisting where possible to prevent unauthorized applications from accessing camera hardware. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual camera driver behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-248 Uncaught Exception categories, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter for potential exploitation through malicious applications. The flaw demonstrates the importance of robust kernel-level input validation and proper error handling in embedded systems where userspace processes can directly interact with critical hardware components through kernel interfaces.