CVE-2016-2452 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
codecs/amrnb/dec/SoftAMR.cpp in libstagefright 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 validate buffer sizes, which allows attackers to gain privileges via a crafted application, as demonstrated by obtaining Signature or SignatureOrSystem access, aka internal bugs 27662364 and 27843673.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2452 resides within the libstagefright multimedia framework of Android operating systems, specifically affecting versions prior to the mentioned security patches. This flaw exists in the codecs/amrnb/dec/SoftAMR.cpp file which handles adaptive multi-rate narrowband audio decoding operations. The issue represents a classic buffer overflow vulnerability that occurs when the system fails to properly validate input buffer sizes during audio processing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the mediaserver process, which runs with elevated privileges and has access to system-level resources. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious applications that feed malformed audio data to the affected system, potentially allowing privilege escalation attacks that could result in unauthorized access to system resources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability follows a well-documented pattern that aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers. The flaw occurs when the SoftAMR.cpp component processes incoming audio data without proper bounds checking on buffer dimensions, allowing attackers to supply oversized data structures that overwrite adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the mediaserver process, which typically runs with Signature or SignatureOrSystem access level permissions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through code injection, where the initial compromise occurs through a crafted media file or application that triggers the vulnerable code path during normal media processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2452 extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it provides attackers with access to sensitive system functionality that could enable further exploitation. When successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to gain access to system-level APIs and services that are normally restricted to trusted system applications. This access level provides the capability to install malicious applications, modify system files, access encrypted data, and potentially establish persistent backdoors within the device. The vulnerability affects multiple Android versions simultaneously, indicating a fundamental flaw in the media processing pipeline that was not properly addressed through the standard security review processes. The fact that this issue was tracked internally as bugs 27662364 and 27843673 demonstrates the complexity of the underlying memory management issues that contributed to the vulnerability's persistence across multiple Android releases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-2452 primarily focus on applying the relevant security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates. Organizations and individuals should immediately update their Android devices to versions 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, or the corresponding 6.x releases that contain the fixed implementation of the buffer validation logic. The patch addresses the core issue by implementing proper input validation checks that ensure buffer sizes remain within expected parameters before processing begins. Additionally, system administrators should implement network-level monitoring to detect suspicious media file handling activities and consider applying application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of untrusted applications that might exploit this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any devices within their network that remain unpatched, as the vulnerability could potentially be exploited in mobile device management scenarios where compromised devices could serve as entry points for broader network attacks.