CVE-2015-6605 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
mediaserver in Android before 5.1.1 LMY48T allows attackers to cause a denial of service (process crash) via unspecified vectors, aka internal bugs 20915134 and 23142203, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-7718.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6605 affects the mediaserver component within Android operating systems prior to version 5.1.1 LMY48T. This represents a critical denial of service weakness that can be exploited by remote attackers to crash processes within the media subsystem. The mediaserver serves as a core system service responsible for handling multimedia operations including audio and video processing, file format parsing, and media playback functions. The vulnerability manifests through unspecified attack vectors that specifically target internal bug identifiers 20915134 and 23142203, distinguishing it from other similar vulnerabilities such as CVE-2015-7718. These internal bugs likely represent memory corruption issues or improper input validation within the media processing pipeline that can be triggered through crafted media files or malformed data streams.
The technical flaw resides in how the mediaserver processes multimedia content without adequate input sanitization or boundary checking mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this weakness by sending specially crafted media data or manipulating media file formats that cause the mediaserver process to crash or terminate unexpectedly. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, or potentially CWE-122 for stack-based buffer overflows, depending on the specific implementation details of the memory corruption. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that mediaserver is frequently accessed during normal device operation when users interact with multimedia content, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6605 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect device usability and user experience. When the mediaserver crashes, it can result in complete multimedia functionality loss across the device, preventing users from playing audio or video files, using camera applications, or accessing other media-related features. This vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments or critical infrastructure settings where mobile devices serve as communication or operational tools. The denial of service condition can be triggered remotely through malicious media files delivered via email attachments, web downloads, or social media platforms, making it a significant threat vector. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which covers network denial of service attacks, and could potentially be leveraged as part of broader attack chains targeting mobile device security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-6605 should prioritize immediate system updates to Android 5.1.1 LMY48T or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and memory management fixes. Organizations should implement network-based filtering to block suspicious media file attachments and restrict access to untrusted media sources. Device administrators should consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically patch vulnerable systems and monitor for exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify other potential vulnerabilities in the media processing pipeline, as this type of flaw often indicates broader issues with input handling and memory safety mechanisms within the operating system. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper code review practices and automated testing for memory safety issues, particularly in system services that handle untrusted input data.