CVE-2015-6632 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
libstagefright in Android before 5.1.1 LMY48Z and 6.0 before 2015-12-01 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information, and consequently bypass an unspecified protection mechanism, via unknown vectors, as demonstrated by obtaining Signature or SignatureOrSystem access, aka internal bug 24346430.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-6632 resides within the libstagefright multimedia framework component of Android operating systems, affecting versions prior to 5.1.1 LMY48Z and 6.0 before the 2015-12-01 security patch. This flaw represents a critical information disclosure vulnerability that enables remote attackers to bypass unspecified protection mechanisms within the Android security model. The vulnerability manifests through unknown vectors that allow adversaries to obtain sensitive information, ultimately compromising the integrity of Android's permission system and access controls.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the libstagefright library which handles multimedia file processing and decoding operations. This component processes various media formats including mp4, 3gpp, and other multimedia containers that are commonly encountered in Android applications and system operations. When processing malformed or specially crafted multimedia files, the library fails to properly validate input data, creating opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information from memory locations that should remain protected. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to obtain Signature or SignatureOrSystem access levels, which represent elevated privileges within the Android security model that grant access to system-level components and sensitive applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-6632 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally undermines Android's security architecture by allowing remote code execution and privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass the standard Android permission model, gaining access to system-level components that should be restricted to system applications or those with explicit signature-level permissions. This capability enables adversaries to potentially install malicious applications with elevated privileges, access protected system resources, and compromise the overall security posture of affected devices. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and its alignment with ATT&CK technique T1068 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) demonstrates its serious implications for mobile security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of security patches provided by Google and device manufacturers, with particular attention to ensuring timely updates for Android versions 5.1.0 and 6.0. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious multimedia file transfers and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and restrict access to potentially malicious content. The vulnerability's exploitation potential necessitates proactive security measures including regular security assessments, network traffic analysis for anomalous multimedia processing activities, and implementation of sandboxing mechanisms to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific flaw.