CVE-2021-1017 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 12/15/2021
In AdapterService and GattService definition of AndroidManifest.xml, there is a possible way to disable bluetooth connection due to a missing permission check. This could lead to local escalation of privilege with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.Product: AndroidVersions: Android-12Android ID: A-182583850
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/22/2021
This vulnerability resides in the Android Bluetooth service implementation where the AdapterService and GattService components lack proper permission validation in their AndroidManifest.xml definitions. The flaw represents a classic privilege escalation vector that allows malicious applications to disrupt Bluetooth connectivity by exploiting missing permission checks. The vulnerability affects Android 12 and is tracked under Android ID A-182583850, demonstrating the critical nature of permission management in system-level services.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient access control mechanisms within the Bluetooth service framework. When AdapterService and GattService are defined without proper permission requirements, any application with basic Bluetooth permissions can potentially manipulate core Bluetooth functionality. This creates a scenario where unauthorized code can interfere with Bluetooth connections, effectively disabling the service or manipulating its behavior. The vulnerability operates at the system service level where proper privilege separation should prevent such unauthorized access patterns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables local privilege escalation without requiring additional execution privileges, making it particularly dangerous in environments where multiple applications run with varying permission levels. The attack requires user interaction to exploit, typically through the installation of a malicious application that leverages the permission gap to disable Bluetooth functionality. This could be used for denial-of-service attacks against Bluetooth-dependent applications or to create covert channels for further exploitation. The impact extends beyond simple connectivity disruption to potentially affecting security-critical Bluetooth-based authentication mechanisms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control in software systems, specifically targeting the lack of proper permission validation in service definitions. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this maps to privilege escalation techniques where adversaries leverage weak access controls to gain elevated system privileges. The exploitation process involves identifying the vulnerable service components and crafting malicious payloads that can interact with these services without proper authentication. Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing proper permission checks in AndroidManifest.xml files for all system services, particularly those handling critical hardware interfaces like Bluetooth adapters. Security patches should enforce mandatory permission requirements for Bluetooth service access, ensuring that only authorized system components can manipulate core Bluetooth functionality.