CVE-2017-0692 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-36725407.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0692 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 handling various audio and video file formats, creating a significant security concern for mobile device users and organizations relying on Android platforms. The vulnerability manifests through improper handling of malformed media files that can trigger system instability and complete service disruption. The Android media framework serves as a core component for processing multimedia content across the platform, making this flaw particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, text messages containing media files, or compromised web content.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the media processing pipeline where the framework fails to properly sanitize and validate media file headers and structures before attempting to decode or render content. This flaw specifically affects the stage where media files are parsed and processed, allowing attackers to craft specially crafted media files that contain malformed data structures or buffer overflows that cause the underlying media framework components to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer overflow condition that occurs during the parsing of media metadata, where the system attempts to allocate memory for processing file headers without proper bounds checking. This issue falls under the CWE-121 category of buffer overflow conditions in stack-based buffers, which aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through media processing components.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0692 extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially render devices completely unusable until rebooted, creating significant disruption for end users and enterprise environments. Mobile devices affected by this vulnerability may experience complete system lockups, requiring manual restart procedures that can be particularly problematic in enterprise settings where device management and uptime are critical. Organizations utilizing Android devices for business operations face potential productivity losses and increased support overhead as users encounter system instability when processing legitimate media content. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through various attack vectors including SMS messages containing malicious media files, email attachments, or web-based content that automatically triggers the media processing framework upon user interaction. Security researchers have noted that the exploitation requires minimal technical expertise, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be leveraged by threat actors with basic knowledge of mobile security exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0692 focus primarily on applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which address the underlying buffer overflow conditions in the media framework. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected Android devices receive the necessary security updates, particularly those running versions 4.4.4 through 7.1.2. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security controls such as media file filtering at network boundaries and email security solutions that scan for potentially malicious media attachments. Device management platforms should be configured to enforce automatic security updates where possible, and users should be educated about avoiding suspicious media content from untrusted sources. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in mobile frameworks, particularly around input validation and memory management, as highlighted by the ATT&CK framework's emphasis on preventing code injection and buffer overflow exploitation techniques. Organizations should also implement monitoring solutions that can detect unusual system behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact can be subtle and may not always result in immediate system crashes but rather gradual performance degradation or intermittent service disruptions.