CVE-2016-6714 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A remote denial of service vulnerability in Mediaserver in Android 6.x before 2016-11-01 and 7.0 before 2016-11-01 could enable an attacker to use a specially crafted file to cause a device hang or reboot. This issue is rated as High due to the possibility of remote denial of service. Android ID: A-31092462.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6714 represents a critical remote denial of service flaw within the Android mediaserver component that affected versions 6.x and 7.0 prior to the specified security patch date. This vulnerability resides in the media processing subsystem responsible for handling various multimedia file formats and streaming protocols on Android devices. The mediaserver process operates with elevated privileges and serves as a central hub for media-related operations including audio and video decoding, file format parsing, and media playback functionality. The flaw specifically manifests when the system processes specially crafted media files that contain malformed or maliciously constructed data structures designed to trigger unexpected behavior within the media processing pipeline.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the mediaserver's media parsing routines. When the system encounters a crafted media file, the parsing logic fails to properly handle malformed data structures or oversized buffers, leading to memory corruption or stack overflow conditions. This weakness allows an attacker to exploit the media processing pipeline through remote delivery mechanisms such as malicious email attachments, web downloads, or compromised media repositories. The vulnerability operates at the application level within the Android framework, leveraging the system's media handling capabilities to execute malicious code sequences that ultimately result in system instability. The flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to system resource exhaustion or process termination.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6714 extends beyond simple system disruption to potentially enable broader exploitation vectors within the Android ecosystem. While the primary effect is device hang or reboot, the vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can trigger the denial of service without physical access to the target device. This characteristic makes the flaw particularly dangerous in environments where mobile devices serve as primary communication or operational platforms. The vulnerability affects devices running Android 6.0 and 7.0 versions, which were widely deployed across various manufacturers' smartphone and tablet models, amplifying the potential attack surface. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability can be exploited through multiple attack vectors including email attachments, web content, and file sharing platforms, making it particularly challenging to defend against in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6714 require immediate implementation of security patches and updates from device manufacturers and Google. The recommended approach involves applying the November 2016 security updates that specifically address the media processing vulnerabilities within the mediaserver component. Organizations should implement network-based filtering to block suspicious media file downloads and enforce strict content validation policies for all media attachments. Device administrators should consider disabling unnecessary media processing capabilities and implementing application whitelisting to prevent execution of potentially malicious media files. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and proper memory management in system components that handle untrusted data, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios. Additionally, security teams should monitor for related vulnerabilities that may exploit similar weaknesses in media processing frameworks and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures for handling denial of service attacks targeting mobile platforms.