CVE-2017-8280 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, during the wlan calibration data store and retrieve operation, there are some potential race conditions which lead to a memory leak and a buffer overflow during the context switch.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8280 represents a critical security flaw affecting Qualcomm products that utilize Android operating systems through the Linux kernel framework. This issue specifically manifests during wlan calibration data operations, where the system handles data storage and retrieval processes. The vulnerability stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the wireless networking subsystem, creating conditions where concurrent operations can interfere with each other during context switching phases. The flaw impacts all Qualcomm products that incorporate Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum, making it widespread across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems that rely on Qualcomm's wireless chipsets.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves race conditions occurring during wlan calibration data management within the kernel space. When the system attempts to store or retrieve wlan calibration data, multiple processes or threads may access shared memory resources simultaneously without proper locking mechanisms. This lack of proper synchronization creates opportunities for memory corruption during context switches when the kernel transitions between different execution states. The buffer overflow condition arises when the system attempts to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries, while the memory leak occurs due to improper resource deallocation during these concurrent operations. The vulnerability specifically targets the wireless local area network subsystem and operates at the kernel level, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially escalate to full system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8280 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the kernel space or cause system instability through memory exhaustion. The memory leak component can gradually consume system resources, leading to denial of service conditions where the device becomes unresponsive or crashes. The buffer overflow vulnerability presents a more severe threat, as it could potentially allow privilege escalation attacks or remote code execution depending on the attack vector. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges, manipulate wireless network configurations, or even compromise the entire device. The nature of the flaw makes it particularly concerning for mobile devices where wireless connectivity is essential for normal operation, potentially affecting millions of devices globally.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8280 should focus on implementing proper synchronization mechanisms within the wlan calibration data handling code. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying security patches provided by Qualcomm or the relevant Android vendors to address the race condition issues. The implementation of proper locking mechanisms and memory management practices during context switches should be enforced to prevent concurrent access violations. Additionally, monitoring systems should be deployed to detect anomalous wlan calibration data operations that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit potential attack surfaces, while regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other kernel subsystems. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which describes race conditions in software, and could potentially map to ATT&CK technique T1059 for privilege escalation through kernel exploits.