CVE-2017-9720 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In all Qualcomm products with Android releases from CAF using the Linux kernel, due to an off-by-one error in a camera driver, an out-of-bounds read/write can occur.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9720 represents a critical security flaw affecting Qualcomm products that incorporate Android-based systems utilizing the Linux kernel. This issue stems from an off-by-one error within a camera driver component, which creates a fundamental programming mistake that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The flaw specifically impacts devices manufactured by Qualcomm and deployed across various Android platforms, making it a widespread concern for mobile device security. The vulnerability's presence in Camera driver components means that any application or malicious code attempting to interact with camera functionality could potentially trigger the flawed memory access pattern.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through an off-by-one error, which is classified under CWE-129 as an "Improper Validation of Array Index" and can be categorized under CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write" or "Out-of-bounds Read" depending on the specific exploitation scenario. This programming error occurs when a buffer or array is accessed with an index that is either one position too high or too low, creating a situation where memory locations outside the intended boundaries can be accessed. In the context of the camera driver, this error allows for unauthorized memory operations that can result in information disclosure, system instability, or potential privilege escalation. The out-of-bounds read/write conditions can be leveraged to extract sensitive information from memory or to corrupt critical system data structures, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9720 extends beyond simple data corruption, as it can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code within the camera subsystem or potentially escalate privileges to gain root access on affected devices. The vulnerability creates a pathway for persistent threats to establish footholds within mobile environments where camera functionality is utilized, particularly when applications request camera permissions or when system services interact with the camera driver. This flaw can be particularly dangerous because camera drivers often operate with elevated privileges and have direct hardware access, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent backdoors or to extract sensitive data from device memory. The exploitation of this vulnerability can result in data theft, privacy violations, and complete device compromise, as it allows for manipulation of memory regions that should remain protected from unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Qualcomm products through firmware updates that correct the off-by-one error in the camera driver implementation. Organizations and users should prioritize updating their devices to the latest security patches released by Qualcomm and device manufacturers, as these updates contain the necessary code modifications to resolve the buffer overflow condition. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1068 as "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation" and T1059 as "Command and Scripting Interpreter" when considering potential exploitation paths that could leverage the camera driver access for broader system compromise. System administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider restricting camera permissions for applications that do not require such access. Additionally, device manufacturers should conduct thorough code reviews of driver components to identify similar off-by-one errors that could create analogous security risks, particularly in memory management functions that handle array indexing operations.