CVE-2017-0730 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in the Android media framework (h264 decoder). Product: Android. Versions: 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-36279112.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0730 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework specifically affecting the h264 decoder implementation. This vulnerability manifests in Android versions 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, making it a widespread issue across multiple Android releases. The Android ID A-36279112 indicates this was properly tracked within Google's internal vulnerability management system. The flaw resides in how the media framework processes h264 video streams, creating a condition where specially crafted malicious video content can cause the system to become unresponsive or crash entirely.
This vulnerability operates through a buffer overflow condition within the h264 decoder component, specifically when processing malformed video parameters or frame data. The technical implementation involves improper bounds checking during the parsing of h264 video streams, allowing an attacker to craft video files that trigger memory corruption when decoded by the affected Android versions. The flaw aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or media file sharing, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with multimedia content.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0730 extends beyond simple system crashes to potentially disrupt critical device functionality and user experience. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the media framework to become unresponsive, leading to complete denial of service for video playback capabilities. This affects not only individual applications but can also impact system stability, potentially causing the device to freeze or require manual rebooting. The vulnerability falls under ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1059.007, which addresses command and scripting interpreter usage in mobile environments. Users may experience complete loss of media functionality until the device is restarted, and in some cases, the system may become unstable enough to prevent normal operation of other applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through standard Android security updates, as Google released fixes for affected versions in their regular security bulletins. Organizations should implement proactive monitoring for any suspicious media file handling activities and consider network-level filtering of potentially malicious video content. The fix involves strengthening input validation within the h264 decoder and implementing proper bounds checking mechanisms to prevent buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, users should avoid opening media files from untrusted sources and ensure their devices remain updated with the latest security patches. System administrators should consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically deploy security updates and monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing components and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of media frameworks in mobile operating systems.