CVE-2017-0690 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in the Android media framework. Product: Android. Versions: 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-36592202.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0690 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework that affects multiple versions of the operating system from Android 4.4.4 through 7.1.2. This issue resides in the multimedia subsystem responsible for processing various audio and video file formats, creating a potential attack surface where malicious actors could exploit the underlying code to disrupt normal system operations. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed media files during the decoding process, specifically within the stage where the system parses and processes media metadata. The flaw manifests when the media framework encounters specially crafted media files that contain malformed or oversized metadata structures, causing the system to enter an infinite loop or consume excessive resources during processing. This behavior aligns with CWE-400, which categorizes improper resource management and infinite loops as common causes of denial of service conditions in software systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the media framework's failure to properly validate input parameters when processing media files, particularly those containing extended metadata or malformed headers. When a maliciously constructed media file is processed, the framework's parsing routines become trapped in recursive or iterative loops that consume system resources without proper termination conditions. The vulnerability affects the Android media framework's native libraries responsible for handling various multimedia formats including but not limited to mp4, avi, and other container formats. This flaw operates at a low level within the system architecture, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or file transfers from untrusted sources. The impact extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially causing complete device unresponsiveness, requiring manual reboot to restore normal operation. According to ATT&CK framework reference T1499.004, this vulnerability represents a resource exhaustion attack pattern that specifically targets system services to achieve denial of service conditions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for Android devices as it can be exploited remotely through various communication channels without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges. The attack surface is broad since media files are commonly encountered through email, messaging applications, web browsing, and file sharing services, making the exploitation vector highly accessible to threat actors. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Android devices may be used for business-critical applications, as sustained denial of service conditions could disrupt productivity and business operations. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence across multiple Android versions indicates that it represents a fundamental flaw in the media framework design rather than an isolated incident. The resource consumption patterns associated with this vulnerability can lead to battery drain, system instability, and potential data loss if the device becomes unresponsive during critical operations. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability can be reliably triggered through automated testing tools, making it suitable for mass exploitation campaigns targeting vulnerable Android installations. The lack of proper input validation in the media processing pipeline creates a persistent risk that requires immediate remediation to prevent exploitation in the wild. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management strategies to address this vulnerability across all affected Android versions, as the flaw remains exploitable in unpatched systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and resource management in mobile operating systems, particularly within multimedia frameworks that handle untrusted content from diverse sources.