CVE-2016-2428 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
libAACdec/src/aacdec_drc.cpp in mediaserver in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before 2016-05-01 does not properly limit the number of threads, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (stack memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 26751339.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2428 resides within the Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) decoder component of Android's media server implementation, specifically in the aacdec_drc.cpp file. This flaw affects multiple Android versions including 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, and 6.x before the specified date, representing a critical security issue that has persisted across several major Android releases. The vulnerability stems from inadequate thread management within the audio decoding process, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted media files can exploit the system's resource allocation mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper limitation of thread creation within the AAC decoder's dynamic range compression processing module. When processing specially crafted audio files, the decoder fails to enforce proper bounds on thread instantiation, allowing attackers to trigger excessive thread creation that ultimately leads to stack memory corruption. This memory corruption occurs because the system's stack space becomes exhausted or overwritten due to the uncontrolled thread proliferation, creating conditions that enable arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability manifests as a stack-based buffer overflow that can be exploited through the media server's handling of malformed audio content.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2428 presents significant security risks to Android devices, as remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability without requiring physical access or user interaction. The attack vector involves delivering a maliciously crafted media file that, when processed by the vulnerable media server, triggers the thread exhaustion condition. This allows adversaries to either execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the media server process or cause a denial of service that renders the device unusable. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-770, which addresses the allocation of resources without limits or with inadequate limits, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in system resource management.
From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1489 for denial of service. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a media file that contains malformed thread allocation instructions within the AAC decoding context, which when played or processed by the vulnerable system triggers the memory corruption. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation potential increases significantly in environments where users frequently interact with multimedia content, making mobile devices particularly susceptible to this class of attack.
The recommended mitigations for CVE-2016-2428 include applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which address the thread limit enforcement within the AAC decoder. System administrators should prioritize updating affected Android versions to the patched releases, particularly for devices running Android 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, and the corresponding 6.x releases. Additionally, implementing network-level controls to restrict media file downloads and processing can provide defense-in-depth protection. Organizations should also consider disabling unnecessary media processing capabilities and implementing proper input validation for all multimedia content to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the media stack. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of resource management controls in multimedia processing systems and highlights the need for robust thread limiting mechanisms in audio and video decoding libraries.