CVE-2017-0640 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A remote 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-33129467.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0640 represents a critical remote 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 media processing framework that handles various multimedia file formats and is part of the broader Android operating system security architecture. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the media server daemon that processes multimedia content, making it susceptible to malformed or specially crafted media files that can trigger unexpected system behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious media file that, when processed by the Mediaserver component, causes the system to enter an unstable state leading to device hang or complete reboot. This flaw operates at the system level within the Android framework where media files are decoded and rendered, typically through the stagefright multimedia framework that handles various audio and video formats including mp4, 3gp, and other common multimedia containers. The vulnerability specifically manifests during the parsing and processing of media headers and metadata, where improper boundary checks and memory management routines fail to handle malformed input data correctly.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant threat to Android devices as it allows remote attackers to disrupt device functionality without requiring local access or user interaction. The attack surface is broad since media files can be delivered through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, messaging applications, and file sharing services. The high severity rating reflects the potential for widespread disruption across affected Android versions and the ease with which an attacker can exploit this vulnerability to cause service degradation or complete device unavailability. This aligns with CWE-129, Input Validation, and CWE-125, Out-of-bounds Read, which are common patterns in media processing vulnerabilities.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-0640 demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, where an attacker can leverage this vulnerability to gain control over device availability and functionality. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual devices to potentially affect large-scale deployments in enterprise environments where mobile device management systems rely on consistent device availability. Organizations implementing Android-based solutions must consider this vulnerability as part of their overall security posture, particularly in environments where mobile devices are critical to business operations and where the risk of remote compromise could lead to significant operational disruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patch deployment through official Android security updates, network-based filtering of suspicious media files, and implementation of sandboxing mechanisms to isolate media processing components. System administrators should also consider network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation and implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual device behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in multimedia frameworks and serves as a reminder of the critical need for comprehensive security testing of media processing components in mobile operating systems. Organizations should also consider implementing mobile device management policies that restrict media file handling capabilities and enforce regular security updates to protect against similar vulnerabilities in the future.