CVE-2017-8281 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, a race condition can allow access to already freed memory while querying event status via DCI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8281 represents a critical race condition flaw within Qualcomm's Android implementations that leverages the Linux kernel infrastructure. This issue affects all Qualcomm products utilizing Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum that incorporate the Linux kernel, creating a widespread security concern across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests during event status queries through the DCI (Device Control Interface) mechanism, where the timing of memory operations creates exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical flaw stems from improper synchronization mechanisms within the kernel-level implementation of DCI event handling. When the system attempts to query event status information, a race condition occurs between the memory deallocation process and subsequent access operations. This timing discrepancy allows an attacker to potentially access memory that has already been freed, creating opportunities for memory corruption, information disclosure, or privilege escalation. The race condition typically occurs when one thread frees memory while another thread attempts to access the same memory region, violating fundamental memory safety principles. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-362, which categorizes race conditions in concurrent programming environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-8281 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can potentially enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges or extract sensitive information from the device's memory space. Mobile devices running affected Qualcomm chipsets become vulnerable to attacks that could compromise user data, communications, or device integrity. The attack surface includes scenarios where legitimate applications or system services query DCI events, making exploitation possible through normal device operation patterns. This vulnerability particularly affects the Android operating system's kernel-level security model, undermining the fundamental isolation mechanisms that protect against unauthorized access to system resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-8281 primarily involve implementing proper synchronization mechanisms within the DCI event handling code to prevent race conditions between memory deallocation and access operations. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying the latest security patches provided by Qualcomm and the Android security team. The fix typically involves modifying the kernel code to ensure that memory regions are not accessed after deallocation, often through the implementation of proper locking mechanisms or reference counting approaches. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under privilege escalation techniques, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within affected systems or establish persistent access through code execution capabilities. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify affected devices and implement comprehensive patch management protocols to prevent exploitation of this race condition vulnerability.