CVE-2017-0397 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in id3/ID3.cpp in libstagefright in Mediaserver could enable a local malicious application to access data outside of its permission levels. This issue is rated as Moderate because it could be used to access sensitive data without permission. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1. Android ID: A-32377688.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/27/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0397 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android media processing framework, specifically affecting the libstagefright library component. This issue resides in the id3/ID3.cpp file of the Mediaserver process, which serves as a core component responsible for handling multimedia content processing and playback across Android devices. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking and memory management during the parsing of ID3 metadata within audio files, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a buffer over-read condition that occurs when the stagefright media parser processes malformed ID3 tags in audio files. When a malicious application crafts specially formatted audio files containing malformed ID3 metadata, the parser fails to properly validate the data boundaries, allowing the code to read beyond allocated memory regions. This behavior creates a scenario where sensitive data from adjacent memory locations could be exposed to the requesting application, potentially including system credentials, personal user data, or other confidential information stored in memory. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the mediaserver process, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through local applications with minimal privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it represents a privilege escalation vector that could enable malicious applications to access data beyond their intended permission levels. Attackers could leverage this flaw to extract sensitive information from the device's memory, potentially including cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, or personal user data stored in memory buffers. The moderate severity rating reflects the fact that exploitation requires local access and a malicious application, but the potential for data compromise makes it a significant security concern for Android devices running the affected versions. This vulnerability directly impacts the Android security model by undermining the principle of least privilege and potentially allowing unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0397 primarily focus on applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which include updated versions of the libstagefright library and enhanced memory validation routines. System administrators should ensure all affected Android devices are updated to the latest security patches, particularly those addressing the A-32377688 Android ID. Additionally, organizations should implement application sandboxing measures and monitor for suspicious file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through local applications. Device manufacturers should also consider implementing additional memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to further reduce the exploitability of similar vulnerabilities. Regular security audits of media processing components and strict file validation protocols should be enforced to prevent similar issues from emerging in future implementations.