CVE-2016-3741 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The H.264 decoder in mediaserver in Android 6.x before 2016-07-01 does not initialize certain slice data, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 28165661.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-3741 represents a critical security flaw in the H.264 video decoder component of Android 6.0 operating systems, specifically affecting versions released before July 1, 2016. This issue resides within the mediaserver process, which serves as a central component for handling multimedia operations in the Android framework. The vulnerability stems from improper initialization of slice data structures during video decoding operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities through specially crafted media files. The affected system components operate at a low level within the Android operating system, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities or cause system-wide service disruptions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient initialization of slice data structures within the H.264 decoder implementation. Slice data represents segments of video frames that are processed independently during decoding operations, and when these data structures fail to be properly initialized, they may contain unpredictable values or remain in an undefined state. This improper initialization creates memory corruption conditions that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious video files designed to trigger specific decoding paths. The vulnerability manifests when the decoder processes malformed slice data that leads to buffer overflows or other memory corruption scenarios, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate execution flow. This flaw aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can create security vulnerabilities in multimedia processing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-3741 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable Android devices. This remote code execution vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, or infected media files downloaded from untrusted sources. The attack surface is particularly broad since H.264 video files are commonly encountered in everyday usage scenarios, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world conditions. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data theft, persistent backdoor installation, or the ability to perform actions with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects devices running Android 6.0 and earlier versions, representing a significant security gap that could be leveraged for advanced persistent threats or mass exploitation campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular security updates. Users should immediately install the Android security patch released on July 1, 2016, which addresses the uninitialized slice data initialization issue in the mediaserver component. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all Android devices within their environment receive timely security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based filtering to block suspicious media file downloads, deploying mobile device management solutions to enforce security policies, and educating users about the risks of downloading media content from untrusted sources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution through operating system exploitation, with potential lateral movement capabilities once initial compromise occurs. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies for media applications and monitoring for unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts.