CVE-2016-0835 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
decoder/impeg2d_dec_hdr.c in mediaserver in Android 6.x before 2016-04-01 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file that triggers a certain negative value, aka internal bug 26070014.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-0835 resides within the media server component of Android 6.0 systems, specifically in the MPEG-2 decoder implementation located in decoder/impeg2d_dec_hdr.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects devices running Android 6.0 versions prior to the 2016-04-01 security patch release. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of negative values during the decoding process of MPEG-2 media files, creating a pathway for remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The issue is classified as an internal bug with the identifier 26070014, indicating its origin within Google's internal tracking systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted media file is processed by the affected Android media server. The flaw manifests when the decoder encounters certain negative values during header parsing, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target device. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-191 Integer Underflow, where the improper handling of negative integer values during memory allocation or buffer operations creates exploitable conditions. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the system level within the media server daemon, which runs with elevated privileges and has access to sensitive system resources.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities on affected Android devices, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The memory corruption aspect of the vulnerability can also result in denial of service conditions, where the media server crashes or becomes unresponsive, rendering the device unusable for media playback functions. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised media sharing platforms. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Android 6.0 devices and represents a significant security risk for users who frequently interact with multimedia content from untrusted sources.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the security patches released by Google on April 1, 2016, which address the specific memory handling issues in the MPEG-2 decoder. Device manufacturers should prioritize the deployment of these patches across their affected device fleets to ensure comprehensive protection. Additionally, users should be advised to avoid opening media files from untrusted sources and to maintain current security updates on their devices. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering measures to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious media files through corporate networks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper integer validation and memory management in multimedia processing components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1499.004 for Endpoint Denial of Service, which highlight the potential for both code execution and service disruption through such memory corruption flaws.