CVE-2017-13272:

Use-after-free vulnerability in Android's alarm functionality could lead to remote privilege escalation

Score
A numerical rating that indicates how dangerous this vulnerability is.

9.8Critical

Published Date:Apr 4, 2018
CISA KEV Date:*No Data*
Industries Affected:20

Threat Predictions

EPSS Score:0.8
EPSS Percentile:73%

Exploitability

Score:3.9
Attack Vector:NETWORK
Attack Complexity:LOW
Privileges Required:NONE
User Interaction:NONE
Scope:UNCHANGED

Impact

Score:5.9
Confidentiality Impact:HIGH
Integrity Impact:HIGH
Availability Impact:HIGH

Description Preview

Use-after-free vulnerability in Android's alarm functionality could lead to remote privilege escalation

Overview

This vulnerability (CWE-416: Use After Free) exists in the alarm handling component of Android. The issue occurs when the system continues to use memory after it has been freed, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate this memory to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is particularly severe because: 1. It can be exploited remotely 2. No additional execution privileges are needed 3. No user interaction is required for exploitation 4. It affects multiple Android versions, including both Nougat (7.x) and Oreo (8.x) releases The potential impact includes privilege escalation, which could allow attackers to gain elevated access to the device, potentially compromising sensitive data or taking control of affected systems.

Remediation

To address this vulnerability, users should:
1. Update to the latest Android security patch level that includes fixes for this issue. Google released patches in the March 2018 Android Security Bulletin.
2. Device manufacturers and carriers should apply and distribute these security patches to their devices.
3. If updates are unavailable for your device, consider the following mitigations:
Avoid installing applications from untrusted sources
Keep all apps updated to their latest versions
Be cautious when granting permissions to applications
Consider upgrading to a supported device if your device is no longer receiving security updates
4. System administrators managing Android devices in enterprise environments should ensure that all devices are updated with the latest security patches through their mobile device management (MDM) solutions.