CVE-2016-3881 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
The decoder_peek_si_internal function in vp9/vp9_dx_iface.c in libvpx in mediaserver in Android 4.x before 4.4.4, 5.0.x before 5.0.2, 5.1.x before 5.1.1, 6.x before 2016-09-01, and 7.0 before 2016-09-01 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (buffer over-read, and device hang or reboot) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 30013856.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-3881 represents a critical buffer over-read flaw within the VP9 video decoder implementation in Android's media server component. 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, 6.x before 2016-09-01, and 7.0 before 2016-09-01, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability resides in the decoder_peek_si_internal function located in vp9/vp9_dx_iface.c within the libvpx library, which is part of the media server subsystem responsible for processing multimedia content.
The technical flaw manifests through improper bounds checking within the VP9 decoder's internal function that handles peek operations for si (signal information) data structures. When processing a crafted malicious media file, the function fails to validate input parameters adequately, leading to memory access beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This buffer over-read condition can result in unpredictable behavior including memory corruption, device hang, or complete system reboot. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the decoder level where it can be triggered by simply opening or playing a specially crafted media file, making it highly exploitable in remote attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially compromise the entire device stability and user experience. Attackers can remotely trigger device hang conditions that may require manual rebooting or could lead to complete system failure, effectively rendering the device unusable until recovery occurs. The vulnerability affects the core media processing capabilities of Android devices, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter malicious media content through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing applications. This flaw represents a significant security risk in mobile environments where users frequently process multimedia content from untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and patches provided by Google for affected Android versions. Organizations should prioritize deployment of security updates, particularly for devices running Android 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, and 2016-09-01 release versions or earlier. Network administrators should implement content filtering mechanisms to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious media files, while also monitoring for unusual device behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array index values, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for abuse of system services. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of codec implementations to prevent similar issues in other media processing libraries.