CVE-2015-3871 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 23031033.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3871 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the libstagefright media processing library component of Android operating systems prior to version 5.1.1 LMY48T. This vulnerability resides in the multimedia framework that handles various media file formats including mp4, 3gpp, and other container formats. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through the careful crafting of malicious media files that are processed by the affected system. The vulnerability was internally tracked as bug 23031033, highlighting its significance within Google's internal security tracking systems.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the media parsing routines of libstagefright. When the system processes malformed media files, particularly those containing crafted malicious data structures, the parsing logic fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocation parameters. This leads to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory regions or manipulate program execution flow. The vulnerability specifically affects the handling of various media container formats and their associated metadata, where improper bounds checking allows attackers to trigger heap-based buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. This type of flaw aligns with CWE-121, which categorizes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflows in general.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3871 is severe and far-reaching across the Android ecosystem, as it affects millions of devices running vulnerable versions of the operating system. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious media files shared via instant messaging applications. The remote exploitation capability means that users do not need physical access to devices to carry out attacks, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with untrusted media content. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the media processing service, potentially leading to full device control, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability also poses significant risks to enterprise environments where mobile devices handle sensitive corporate data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates and patches provided by Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should prioritize deployment of Android 5.1.1 LMY48T or later versions that contain the necessary fixes for libstagefright memory corruption issues. Security teams should implement network-based protections including media file filtering and sandboxing of media processing components to limit potential exploitation. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation typically involves code execution through compromised media processing services. Additional defensive measures include implementing mobile device management policies that restrict media file downloads, enabling automatic security updates, and conducting regular vulnerability assessments of mobile environments. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious media file transfers that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices in multimedia processing libraries and the necessity of comprehensive input validation to prevent similar issues in future implementations.