CVE-2016-0815 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The MPEG4Source::fragmentedRead function in MPEG4Extractor.cpp in libstagefright in mediaserver in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.x before 5.1.1 LMY49H, and 6.x before 2016-03-01 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 26365349.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0815 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Android media processing framework that affects multiple versions of the operating system. This vulnerability resides in the MPEG4Source::fragmentedRead function located in the MPEG4Extractor.cpp file within the libstagefright library that serves as the core media extraction component for the Android mediaserver process. The issue manifests when the mediaserver processes specially crafted media files that exploit improper memory handling during fragmented MPEG4 media parsing operations, creating a potential vector for remote code execution or system denial of service.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of media file structures that trigger memory corruption during the fragmented read operations of MPEG4 media files. When the vulnerable function processes malformed media content, it fails to properly validate input parameters and memory boundaries, leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions that can be leveraged by remote attackers. This flaw specifically targets the stagefright media processing subsystem which is responsible for handling multimedia content across various Android versions, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a fundamental system component that processes media files from various sources including email attachments, web downloads, and multimedia messaging.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to compromise affected Android devices. The mediaserver process runs with elevated privileges and handles media processing for the entire system, meaning successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over device functionality. This vulnerability affects Android versions 4.x prior to 4.4.4, 5.x prior to 5.1.1 LMY49H, and 6.x prior to the 2016-03-01 security update, representing a substantial portion of the Android user base at the time of discovery. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates the dangerous intersection of multimedia processing and memory safety in mobile operating systems.
Security researchers have documented this vulnerability as part of the broader stagefright exploit family, which has been extensively studied in cybersecurity contexts and mapped to various ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires the target device to automatically process media content, which can occur through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, or infected messaging applications. Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of network-based mitigations to prevent exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact spans across multiple Android versions and represents a fundamental weakness in mobile media processing security.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires systematic patching of affected Android versions through official security updates provided by Google and device manufacturers. The fix implemented in subsequent releases addresses the memory handling issues within the MPEG4Extractor.cpp file by adding proper input validation and memory boundary checks in the fragmentedRead function. Security professionals should monitor for related vulnerabilities in the stagefright framework and consider implementing network segmentation and media file filtering to reduce exposure risk while waiting for comprehensive patch deployment. The vulnerability serves as a critical reminder of the security implications of multimedia processing components in mobile operating systems and the importance of proper memory safety practices in system-level code.