CVE-2017-0726 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in the Android media framework (libstagefright). 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-36389123.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2019
The CVE-2017-0726 vulnerability represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework specifically affecting the libstagefright component. This vulnerability manifests in Android versions ranging from 4.4.4 through 7.1.2, encompassing a significant portion of the mobile operating system's user base. The issue stems from improper handling of malformed media files during the parsing process, creating a condition where legitimate media processing operations can be disrupted through carefully crafted malicious input. The vulnerability has been classified under CWE-129 as an insufficient input validation, specifically related to improper bounds checking during media file parsing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the libstagefright library processes specially crafted media files that contain malformed data structures. During the parsing phase, the framework fails to properly validate the boundaries of various data fields, leading to integer overflow conditions that cause the media processing service to crash or become unresponsive. This behavior represents a classic denial of service scenario where legitimate users cannot access media functionality, and the system may require a complete reboot to restore normal operations. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the Android media framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect all applications that utilize media processing capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for Android devices, as it allows attackers to remotely trigger system instability through media content. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, potentially affecting user experience and device availability. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the media framework to enter an unrecoverable state, requiring device restart and potentially leading to data loss or service unavailability. The widespread adoption of affected Android versions means that a substantial number of devices could be vulnerable to this attack vector, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device management is critical. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious applications that process media files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0726 focus primarily on applying the appropriate security patches released by Google as part of their regular security updates. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of Android security patches, particularly for devices running the affected versions. System administrators should implement network-level controls to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious media content and consider application whitelisting to restrict media processing capabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and proper bounds checking in system libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1070.004 for Indicator Removal on Host. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of downloading media content from untrusted sources and the importance of keeping devices updated with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in the media processing framework.