CVE-2017-0484 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in Mediaserver could enable an attacker to use a specially crafted file to cause a device hang or reboot. This issue is rated as High severity due to the possibility of remote denial of service. Product: Android. Versions: 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-33298089.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/05/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0484 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android mediaserver component that affects multiple versions including Android 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1. This issue resides in the system's media processing capabilities and specifically targets the mediaserver daemon which handles multimedia file operations across the Android platform. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the media processing pipeline, creating a condition where malformed or specially crafted media files can trigger unexpected behavior in the system's core multimedia services. The affected mediaserver component operates with elevated privileges and processes various media formats including audio and video files, making it a prime target for exploitation. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, which encompasses issues related to insufficient input validation, particularly when dealing with untrusted data from external sources. The attack surface is significantly broad as any application or service that processes media files through the mediaserver interface could potentially be leveraged to trigger this condition. The threat model aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks targeting system resources. The vulnerability's high severity rating stems from its potential for remote exploitation, where an attacker could deliver a malicious media file through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing services, causing devices to hang or reboot without requiring local privileges or user interaction.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a specially crafted media file is processed by the mediaserver component, triggering a memory corruption or resource exhaustion condition that leads to system instability. The flaw typically manifests through improper bounds checking or buffer overflow conditions within the media parsing code, where the mediaserver fails to properly validate the structure and content of incoming media files before processing them. When the mediaserver encounters malformed data during parsing operations, it can cause the process to crash or enter an infinite loop, resulting in device hang or forced reboot. The attack requires minimal privileges since the mediaserver operates at system level and processes files from untrusted sources without adequate sanitization. This vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of insufficient input validation where the system assumes all media files conform to expected formats and structures, failing to implement robust error handling and bounds checking mechanisms. The flaw is particularly concerning because it affects core system components that are frequently accessed during normal device operation, meaning that exploitation could occur through legitimate user activities such as opening email attachments or browsing web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0484 extends beyond simple device disruption to potentially compromising user experience and system reliability across affected Android versions. Devices experiencing this vulnerability may become temporarily unusable during exploitation, requiring manual reboot to restore normal operation, which can be particularly problematic in enterprise environments where device uptime is critical. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can potentially target users without their knowledge, making it a significant concern for mobile device security. Organizations deploying affected Android versions may experience increased support requests, device downtime, and potential business disruption. The vulnerability also represents a broader security concern for the Android ecosystem, as it demonstrates the risk associated with complex media processing components that handle untrusted input. In addition to direct denial of service impacts, this vulnerability could potentially serve as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, as system instability can create opportunities for privilege escalation or information disclosure. The affected versions span multiple Android releases, indicating that the vulnerability was not properly addressed in the security patches for these specific releases, highlighting gaps in the Android security update process.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0484 should prioritize immediate system updates and patches from Google, as the vulnerability was addressed in subsequent Android security releases. Organizations should implement network-based controls to restrict access to untrusted media files and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can automatically apply security patches. Users should be educated about the risks of opening media attachments from unknown sources and encouraged to keep their devices updated with the latest security patches. Network administrators should consider implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious media files before they reach end-user devices. The vulnerability underscores the importance of robust input validation and secure coding practices in system components that process external data, particularly those operating with elevated privileges. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on media processing components and implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Device manufacturers should ensure that security patches are promptly delivered to users and that proper testing is conducted to prevent similar vulnerabilities from being introduced in future releases. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security training for developers working on system-level components, emphasizing the importance of following secure coding guidelines and implementing proper error handling mechanisms.