CVE-2017-11011

Vulnerability

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in a Qualcomm communication API on Android devices using Snapdragon SoC models MDM9206, MDM9607, SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 425, SD 430, SD 450, SD 625, SD 820, and SD 835. The bug is triggered during the lifecycle of a communication operation, where an object is freed but a reference to it remains, allowing dereference of dangling memory. This issue was fixed in the Android security patch level 2018-04-05 [1].

Exploitation

An attacker would need to install a malicious application with no special permissions, as the vulnerability is reachable from an unprivileged app context. The attacker exploits the use-after-free to trigger a memory corruption condition that leads to arbitrary code execution within the context of the Qualcomm communication service [1].

Impact

Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Qualcomm communication service, which runs at a high privilege level. This can lead to full compromise of the affected device, including potential for data exfiltration, installation of persistent malware, or device takeover [1].

Mitigation

The vulnerability is addressed in the Android Security Bulletin for April 2018, with a patch level of 2018-04-01 or later recommended for all affected devices. Users should install the latest security update from their device manufacturer. No workaround is available aside from applying the update [1].