CVE-2015-3873 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 bugs 23016072, 23248776, 23247055, 22845824, 22008959, 21814993, 21048776, 20718524, 20674674, 22388975, 20674086, 21443020, and 22077698, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7716.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-3873 represents a critical security flaw within the libstagefright media processing library in Android operating systems prior to version 5.1.1 LMY48T. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can be exploited remotely through maliciously crafted media files, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread use of Android devices and their tendency to automatically process media content from various sources. The affected library serves as a core component for handling multimedia content including audio, video, and other media formats within the Android framework, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise mobile devices.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of media file parsing operations within libstagefright, specifically when processing certain malformed or crafted media containers. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by preparing specially designed media files that trigger memory corruption conditions during the parsing process. These conditions typically involve buffer overflows, use-after-free errors, or other memory management issues that occur when the library attempts to parse malformed headers, metadata, or content structures within the media files. The vulnerability affects multiple internal bug tracking numbers, indicating that it encompasses several related memory corruption issues within the same codebase, each potentially exploitable through different attack vectors but all stemming from the same underlying parsing logic flaws.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to include full remote code execution capabilities, making it one of the most severe mobile security threats of its time. When successfully exploited, attackers can gain arbitrary code execution privileges on the target device, potentially allowing them to install malicious applications, access sensitive user data, modify system configurations, or even take complete control of the device. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not need physical access to the device, as they can deliver malicious media files through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, social media content, or compromised websites. This makes the attack surface extremely broad and the potential for widespread exploitation significant, particularly given that many users regularly download and play media content from untrusted sources.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics and techniques documented in the attack framework, particularly those related to initial access and privilege escalation through application-level exploits. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in multimedia processing libraries and highlights the risks associated with complex parsing logic that must handle numerous media formats and standards. Organizations and security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) catalog, specifically focusing on weaknesses related to memory safety and input validation. The vulnerability also underscores the need for robust security testing of media processing components and the importance of keeping mobile operating systems updated with the latest security patches, as the affected versions of Android were particularly vulnerable and required immediate remediation through system updates. This vulnerability served as a catalyst for improved security practices in mobile operating system development and highlighted the critical nature of third-party library security in mobile platforms.