CVE-2015-6604 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 23129786.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6604 resides within the libstagefright media processing library component of Android operating systems prior to version 5.1.1 LMY48T. This critical flaw represents a memory corruption issue that enables remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions through the deliberate crafting of malicious media files. The vulnerability was internally documented as bug 23129786, highlighting its significance within Google's internal security tracking systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the stagefright media framework. When the affected Android versions process specially crafted media files, the libstagefright library fails to properly validate the structure and content of these files, leading to memory corruption conditions that can be exploited to gain unauthorized code execution privileges. This flaw operates at the media processing layer, where the system parses and handles various multimedia formats including but not limited to mp4, 3gp, and other container formats that utilize the advanced video coding standard.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6604 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to achieve arbitrary code execution on vulnerable devices. This represents a severe security risk that could allow malicious actors to install malware, access sensitive user data, or compromise the overall integrity of the Android system. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not require physical access to devices, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently download media content from untrusted sources. The memory corruption aspects of this flaw align with common attack patterns documented in the attack technique framework, particularly those related to memory corruption vulnerabilities that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks associated with complex multimedia processing libraries that handle untrusted input data. The flaw represents a classic example of buffer overflow conditions that can be triggered through malformed input, making it consistent with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The exploitation of such vulnerabilities typically follows attack patterns described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to code injection and privilege escalation. Organizations and users must understand that media processing components often serve as attack surfaces due to their need to parse diverse and potentially malicious input formats, making proper input validation and memory management critical security controls.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of Android security patches released by Google for versions 5.1.1 LMY48T and later. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected Android devices to ensure protection against this vulnerability. Additionally, users should avoid downloading media content from untrusted sources and maintain awareness of the potential risks associated with processing multimedia files from unknown origins. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security updates and the critical role that proper input validation plays in preventing exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities in mobile operating systems.