CVE-2016-2507 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in codecs/on2/h264dec/source/h264bsd_storage.c 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 2016-07-01 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 28532266.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-2507 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the H.264 video decoding component of Android's media framework. This issue resides in the libstagefright library's mediaserver process, specifically within the h264bsd_storage.c file that handles video frame storage operations. The vulnerability 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 patch date, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The flaw occurs during the processing of H.264 video streams where the software fails to properly validate integer values when calculating memory allocation sizes for video frame storage, creating a condition where maliciously crafted video files can trigger unexpected behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper integer overflow handling during memory allocation calculations within the H.264 decoder's storage management system. When processing video frames, the software performs arithmetic operations to determine the required memory buffer sizes, but fails to validate that these calculations do not exceed the maximum representable value for the integer type being used. This allows an attacker to craft a media file with maliciously constructed frame dimensions or metadata that, when processed by the vulnerable decoder, causes integer overflow conditions. The resulting corrupted memory allocation sizes can lead to heap-based buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios that provide attackers with opportunities to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-2507 is severe and multifaceted, encompassing both remote code execution capabilities and denial of service conditions. Attackers can remotely exploit this vulnerability by delivering maliciously crafted media files through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or instant messaging applications that utilize Android's media processing capabilities. The vulnerability's presence in the mediaserver component means that exploitation can occur without requiring user interaction beyond opening the malicious media file, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently encounter multimedia content. Successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the mediaserver process, potentially leading to full device control. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged for persistent denial of service attacks that can render devices unusable by causing repeated crashes of the media processing subsystem.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-190, which describes integer overflow conditions, and aligns with multiple ATT&CK tactics including TA0002 (Execution) and TA0005 (Defense Evasion) through the use of memory corruption techniques to achieve code execution. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it operates within the core media processing pipeline of Android devices, affecting a broad range of applications that utilize the underlying media framework. Organizations should implement immediate patch management strategies to address this vulnerability, particularly focusing on updating Android devices to versions that contain the fix for internal bug 28532266. Additional mitigations include implementing network-level restrictions on media file downloads, deploying mobile threat defense solutions, and establishing robust monitoring for unusual media processing activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in multimedia processing libraries, particularly in systems that handle untrusted content from external sources.