CVE-2017-0643 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: 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1. Android ID: A-35645051.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0643 represents a critical remote denial of service flaw within the Android mediaserver component that affects multiple versions of the operating system including Android 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, and 7.1.1. This vulnerability resides in the media processing subsystem responsible for handling various multimedia file formats and is classified as a high severity issue due to its remote exploitability and potential to cause complete device disruption. The mediaserver process serves as a central component in Android's multimedia framework, managing audio and video decoding operations for applications and system services, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise device availability and functionality.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within the mediaserver's media file parsing routines. When processing specially crafted malicious media files, the system fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocation parameters, leading to potential memory corruption conditions that trigger system instability. This flaw manifests as a buffer overflow or heap corruption scenario where the mediaserver process encounters malformed data structures that cause it to crash or enter an unstable state. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through remote means, allowing attackers to send malicious media files via various communication channels such as email attachments, messaging applications, or web downloads without requiring physical access to the device.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0643 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass complete device compromise and user experience degradation. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability forces the affected device into a reboot cycle or complete system hang, rendering the device unusable until manual intervention occurs. This type of attack directly violates the availability principle of the CIA triad and can be particularly devastating in enterprise environments where mobile devices serve critical business functions. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target users without physical proximity, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mobile device management and security operations centers. The attack surface is broad as the mediaserver component processes numerous media formats including audio, video, and image files, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation through various delivery vectors.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-122 categories related to buffer overflow conditions and heap-based buffer overflows, which are fundamental weaknesses in memory management and input validation. The attack pattern follows typical remote code execution vectors documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for legitimate program execution and T1059 command and scripting interpreter categories. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including applying the latest Android security patches, implementing network-based filtering to block suspicious media file types, and deploying mobile threat defense solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, security awareness training for users regarding the dangers of opening untrusted media files from unknown sources should be emphasized, as social engineering remains a common initial attack vector for such vulnerabilities.
The remediation approach for CVE-2017-0643 requires comprehensive system hardening measures that address both immediate patch deployment and long-term security posture improvements. Android security updates specifically address the memory handling issues in the mediaserver component by implementing proper bounds checking and memory allocation validation procedures. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify devices running affected Android versions and prioritize patch deployment across all managed devices. Network segmentation strategies should be implemented to isolate mobile device traffic and reduce the attack surface for remote exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure coding practices in mobile operating system components and demonstrates the critical need for regular security audits of core system services to identify and remediate similar memory corruption vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by malicious actors.