CVE-2016-2464 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
libvpx in libwebm 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 2016-06-01 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted mkv file, aka internal bug 23167726.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2016-2464 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the libvpx library component of Android's media processing stack. This issue 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 2016-06-01 security patch. The vulnerability specifically resides in the mediaserver process which handles multimedia file processing, making it a prime target for remote exploitation. The flaw manifests when processing crafted mkv (Matroska) video files, which are commonly used multimedia containers that support various codecs including VP8 and VP9 video formats. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which can lead to memory corruption and potentially arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a carefully crafted mkv file that triggers improper bounds checking within the libvpx decoder. When the mediaserver processes such a malicious file, the decoder fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target device. The vulnerability's impact is significant because it allows remote attackers to compromise Android devices without requiring any user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios where users might unknowingly download or receive malicious media files. The flaw essentially enables attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially overwrite critical system components or inject malicious code into the mediaserver process, which runs with elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risks to Android device security as it provides attackers with a remote code execution vector through media file processing. The mediaserver process is a critical component that handles multimedia content across various Android applications, making the attack surface broad and potentially affecting multiple applications that rely on media processing capabilities. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute commands on compromised devices. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Android devices are widely deployed, as it could enable attackers to gain persistent access to corporate networks through mobile device compromise.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate deployment of the security patches released by Google for the affected Android versions, ensuring that all devices are updated to versions that contain fixes for the libvpx memory corruption issue. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to filter potentially malicious media files, particularly those with mkv extensions, and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and monitor for suspicious media processing activities. Additionally, users should avoid downloading media content from untrusted sources and should keep their Android devices updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing libraries, serving as a reminder that media decoders require rigorous security testing and validation to prevent similar memory corruption vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.