CVE-2016-6747 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in Mediaserver in Android before 2016-11-05 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-31244612. References: NVIDIA N-CVE-2016-6747.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/30/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-6747 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android mediaserver component that affected devices running Android versions prior to November 5, 2016. This vulnerability resides in the media processing subsystem responsible for handling multimedia files and streams, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to disrupt device functionality. The mediaserver process operates with elevated privileges and handles various media formats including audio, video, and image files, creating a substantial attack surface that could be exploited to compromise device stability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the careful crafting of malicious media files that trigger improper memory handling within the mediaserver daemon. When the system attempts to process these specially crafted files, the memory management routines fail to properly handle the malformed data structures, leading to memory corruption that ultimately causes the device to hang or reboot. This flaw specifically manifests in the way the mediaserver processes certain media containers and their associated metadata, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate the parsing logic into executing unintended code paths that result in system instability.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-6747 extends beyond simple device disruption as it provides attackers with a reliable method for remote system compromise without requiring authentication or physical access to the target device. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates how improper memory handling can lead to denial of service conditions that can be remotely triggered. The attack vector typically involves sending malicious media files through various communication channels such as email attachments, messaging applications, or web downloads, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with untrusted content.
From a threat modeling perspective, this vulnerability maps directly to several ATT&CK techniques including T1499.004 for network denial of service and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The vulnerability's classification as High severity reflects its potential for widespread impact across the Android ecosystem, particularly given the prevalence of media file sharing and the mediaserver's role in processing user-generated content. Organizations and individuals must understand that this flaw represents a fundamental weakness in the Android platform's security architecture, where a single malformed media file can compromise the entire device's stability and availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-6747 primarily focus on applying the relevant Android security patches released in November 2016, which included memory validation improvements and enhanced input sanitization within the mediaserver component. System administrators should ensure all Android devices are updated to versions containing the patched mediaserver implementation, while users should avoid opening media files from untrusted sources. Network administrators can implement additional protective measures such as content filtering and media file scanning to prevent malicious files from reaching end-user devices. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices, as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines. Organizations should also consider implementing device management solutions that can automatically deploy security patches and monitor for vulnerable components within their mobile device fleets.