CVE-2015-3868 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
libstagefright in Android before 5.1.1 LMY48T allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 23270724.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3868 affects the libstagefright multimedia framework component within Android operating systems prior to version 5.1.1 LMY48T. This critical security flaw resides in the media processing subsystem that handles various audio and video file formats, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. The vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the stagefright library, which is responsible for decoding and processing multimedia content across the Android platform.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing specially crafted media files. Attackers can exploit this flaw by delivering maliciously formatted audio or video content that triggers memory corruption during the parsing process. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system attempts to parse malformed mp4, 3gp, or other supported media formats without adequate bounds checking. This memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the media processing service or cause a denial of service condition that crashes the affected system components.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3868 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it represents a significant threat to Android device security and user privacy. The vulnerability affects a core component that processes multimedia content in real-time, meaning that any device running an affected Android version could be compromised through simple media file delivery. This includes various attack vectors such as email attachments, text messages containing multimedia content, web downloads, or any other method of delivering malicious media files to the target device. The exploitation potential is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond normal media processing activities, making it a highly dangerous zero-click attack vector.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1489 for denial of service. The attack surface is extensive given that libstagefright is utilized by numerous Android applications and system services for multimedia processing, creating multiple potential entry points for adversaries. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw places it in the highest severity category, as it allows attackers to gain complete control over affected devices without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond normal media consumption activities.
Organizations and users must prioritize immediate remediation through Android security updates, as the vulnerability affects devices running Android versions from 2.3 through 5.1.1. The patch addresses the underlying memory handling issues in libstagefright by implementing proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Additionally, security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying mobile device management solutions to enforce timely security updates across enterprise device fleets. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the importance of secure coding practices in multimedia processing components and the necessity of regular security assessments for core system libraries.