CVE-2015-8505 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
mediaserver in Android before 5.1.1 LMY48Z allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 17769851, a different vulnerability than CVE-2015-6616, CVE-2015-8506, and CVE-2015-8507.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-8505 affects the mediaserver component in Android operating systems prior to version 5.1.1 LMY48Z, representing a critical security flaw that enables remote code execution or denial of service conditions through maliciously crafted media files. This vulnerability specifically targets the media processing capabilities of Android devices, exploiting memory corruption issues within the mediaserver service that handles multimedia content processing. The flaw is particularly concerning as it operates at the system level and can be triggered remotely without requiring user interaction, making it a significant threat to mobile device security. The vulnerability was internally tracked as bug 17769851 and is distinct from other related vulnerabilities including CVE-2015-6616, CVE-2015-8506, and CVE-2015-8507, which indicates this represents a unique code path or implementation flaw within the media processing subsystem. The mediaserver service in Android is responsible for handling various multimedia formats including audio and video files, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities that could lead to complete system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the media processing pipeline, where crafted media files can trigger buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios that allow attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the mediaserver process. When a malicious media file is processed by the vulnerable mediaserver, the improper input validation and memory management routines can lead to memory corruption that attackers can potentially leverage to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the mediaserver process. This process typically operates with elevated privileges within the Android system, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with significant system access capabilities. The vulnerability operates through the Android media framework's handling of various multimedia formats, including but not limited to mp4, avi, and other common video formats, where the parsing and decoding routines fail to properly validate input data before processing. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing phase when the mediaserver attempts to decode and process malformed or specially crafted media content, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-8505 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise potential, as the mediaserver process typically runs with sufficient privileges to access sensitive system resources. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected devices, potentially leading to complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers do not require physical access to devices or user interaction to trigger the malicious code execution, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently download media content from untrusted sources. The memory corruption issue can manifest in various ways including crashes, system instability, or more dangerous scenarios where attackers can manipulate memory layout to achieve code execution. This vulnerability directly impacts the Android security model by potentially bypassing several security mechanisms including address space layout randomization and stack canaries, as the memory corruption affects core system processes that are fundamental to Android's security architecture.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability through official Android security updates, as the window for exploitation remains open for devices running affected Android versions. The recommended mitigation strategy includes applying the latest security patches from Google, which typically include memory validation improvements, input sanitization enhancements, and code modifications to prevent the specific memory corruption patterns that trigger this vulnerability. System administrators should implement network-based controls to prevent access to untrusted media content, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device management policies can be enforced to ensure timely patch deployment. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and control execution and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation, while also mapping to CWE categories related to memory corruption and improper input validation. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all devices running affected Android versions and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education about the risks of downloading media content from untrusted sources, as social engineering aspects of this vulnerability can be leveraged to deliver malicious media files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, and third-party application stores.