CVE-2017-0713 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution vulnerability in the Android libraries (sfntly). 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-32096780.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0713 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Android system libraries, specifically in the sfntly component responsible for handling font files. This vulnerability affects multiple Android versions including 4.4.4, 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The sfntly library processes font data using the Standard Font File Format, which is fundamental to Android's typography rendering system. This flaw allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected devices through maliciously crafted font files, potentially compromising the entire system.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the sfntly library's font parsing routines. When Android processes font files containing malformed or specially crafted data, the library fails to properly validate the font structure, leading to buffer overflows and memory corruption conditions. This weakness enables attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the affected system components, ultimately allowing remote code execution without requiring user interaction or device compromise. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the Android framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web content, or file downloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0713 is severe and far-reaching across mobile device security. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain complete control over affected Android devices, potentially accessing sensitive user data, installing malicious applications, or establishing persistent backdoors. The remote exploitation capability means that users can be compromised simply by viewing or interacting with malicious content, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments and users handling sensitive information. The widespread affected versions indicate that a significant portion of the Android user base remained vulnerable, creating a substantial attack surface for threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate system updates and security hardening measures. Google released security patches for affected Android versions, and users should prioritize updating their devices to the latest security releases. Organizations should implement network-level controls to block suspicious font file downloads and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and corresponds to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on compromised devices. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network traffic analysis to detect potential attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.