CVE-2017-9680 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, if a pointer argument coming from userspace is invalid, a driver may use an uninitialized structure to log an error message.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/09/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9680 represents a critical security flaw in Qualcomm's Android implementations that stems from improper handling of user-space pointer arguments within kernel drivers. This issue affects all Qualcomm products utilizing Android releases from the Code Aurora Forum that incorporate the Linux kernel, creating a widespread impact across numerous mobile devices and embedded systems. The vulnerability specifically manifests when a driver receives a pointer argument from userspace that is invalid or malformed, leading to potentially dangerous system behavior.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the driver's failure to properly validate pointer arguments before utilizing them in kernel space operations. When an invalid pointer is passed from userspace, the affected driver continues processing and attempts to use an uninitialized structure for error logging purposes. This uninitialized structure contains unpredictable data that can lead to various security implications including information disclosure, denial of service, or potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the specific implementation details. The flaw operates at the kernel level where privilege separation is critical, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited by malicious applications running in userspace to gain elevated privileges or compromise system integrity.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9680 extends beyond simple error handling failures and represents a significant threat to system security and stability. Attackers can potentially exploit this vulnerability to manipulate kernel memory structures, leading to privilege escalation or system crashes. The uninitialized structure usage creates an information leak vector that may expose sensitive kernel memory contents to userspace applications, violating fundamental security principles of kernel isolation. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation and defense evasion tactics, where adversaries exploit kernel-level flaws to maintain persistent access or hide malicious activities. The vulnerability also maps to CWE-457, which specifically addresses use of uninitialized variables, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can result from improper input validation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-9680 should focus on implementing robust input validation mechanisms within kernel drivers to ensure all pointer arguments from userspace are properly validated before processing. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize applying security patches from Qualcomm and the Code Aurora Forum as soon as they become available, as these updates typically include proper pointer validation and initialization routines. Additionally, implementing kernel hardening techniques such as stack canaries, kernel address space layout randomization, and strict memory access controls can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security audits of kernel drivers should be conducted to identify similar uninitialized variable issues, and developers should follow secure coding practices that emphasize proper input validation and memory initialization. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability could be leveraged in combination with other exploits to achieve more sophisticated attacks.