CVE-2017-0386 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Android libnl Library Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Understanding CVE-2017-0386

A vulnerability in the libnl library in Android versions 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1 could allow a local malicious app to execute arbitrary code within a privileged process, potentially granting unauthorized access to elevated privileges.

What is CVE-2017-0386?

The CVE-2017-0386 vulnerability is an elevation of privilege issue in the libnl library within Android, enabling a local malicious application to run arbitrary code within a privileged process.

The Impact of CVE-2017-0386

This vulnerability is considered high severity as it could provide unauthorized apps access to elevated privileges, allowing them capabilities not typically accessible.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-0386

The technical details of the CVE-2017-0386 vulnerability are as follows:

Vulnerability Description

Type: Elevation of privilege
Vulnerable Component: libnl library

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Android
Affected Versions: 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability could be exploited by a local malicious app to gain unauthorized access to elevated privileges within the Android system.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-0386, follow these steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security patches provided by Google for the affected Android versions.
Avoid downloading apps from untrusted sources.
Regularly monitor security bulletins for updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement app sandboxing to limit app privileges.
Conduct regular security audits and penetration testing.
Educate users on safe app usage practices.

Patching and Updates

Google has released security patches for the affected Android versions to mitigate the CVE-2017-0386 vulnerability.