CVE-2017-0694 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-37093318.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0694 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework that affects multiple versions of the Android operating system. This issue resides in the multimedia processing components 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 cause the system to crash or become unresponsive when processing specific crafted inputs.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient input validation within the media framework's parsing mechanisms, specifically in how the system handles certain metadata structures within multimedia files. When an Android device encounters a specially crafted media file containing malformed or unexpected data sequences, the underlying media processing libraries fail to properly validate the input before attempting to parse and render the content. This lack of proper bounds checking and input sanitization creates a condition where the system's memory management can become corrupted or the processing threads can enter an infinite loop, ultimately resulting in system instability or complete device shutdown. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-129 as an Improper Validation of Array Index, which directly relates to the media framework's failure to properly validate input parameters before processing.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0694 extends beyond simple device disruption, potentially affecting enterprise environments where Android devices are used for business operations. Mobile devices running affected Android versions become vulnerable to malicious attacks that could be exploited through various vectors including email attachments, text messages containing multimedia content, or downloaded applications that embed malicious media files. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in corporate settings where employees may receive phishing emails or malicious files through normal business communications, leading to widespread service disruption across an organization's mobile fleet. From an attacker's perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables adversaries to cause system instability through crafted media content that appears legitimate to end users.
Organizations and individual users must implement immediate mitigation strategies to protect against exploitation of this vulnerability. The primary recommended approach involves applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular Android security updates, which address the underlying input validation issues in the media framework. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected Android devices within their environment, particularly focusing on devices that handle sensitive data or are used in mission-critical applications. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as media file scanning and filtering can provide an additional layer of protection against malicious content delivery. Security teams should also consider implementing mobile device management policies that restrict the types of media files that can be downloaded and processed on corporate devices, while monitoring for unusual system behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and highlights the need for comprehensive mobile security strategies that address both operating system vulnerabilities and application-level threats.