CVE-2017-0734 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service vulnerability in the Android media framework (libavc). Product: Android. Versions: 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-38014992.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0734 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libavc component responsible for video decoding operations. This issue impacts multiple Android versions including 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, making it a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed video streams during the decoding process, which can cause the media framework to crash or become unresponsive. The Android ID A-38014992 indicates this was tracked as a significant security concern by Google's security team, highlighting the potential for widespread disruption across affected devices.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient input validation within the libavc library's video decoding routines. When processing specially crafted video files or streams, the framework fails to properly validate the structure and content of the input data, leading to memory corruption or unexpected behavior during the decoding process. This flaw operates at the system level within the Android media framework, specifically targeting the hardware-accelerated video decoding components that are essential for multimedia playback functionality. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, web content, or downloaded media files that contain malformed video data designed to exploit this specific weakness.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0734 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can render affected devices unusable for multimedia operations and potentially affect the overall system stability. When exploited, the vulnerability causes the media framework to crash, resulting in complete denial of service for video playback functionality and potentially affecting other applications that depend on the media subsystem. This issue can be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where mobile devices are critical for business operations, as it can lead to complete device unresponsiveness and require manual rebooting to restore functionality. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 which involves network denial of service attacks, and CWE-125 which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to system instability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve applying the security patches released by Google as part of their regular security updates for Android devices. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Android devices to versions that include the patched libavc library, typically found in Android security updates released in 2017. Additionally, network administrators should implement content filtering measures to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious media files through email attachments, web downloads, or other network-based delivery mechanisms. Device manufacturers and carriers should ensure timely deployment of security patches through their update channels, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely through various attack vectors. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the updated system to ensure that legitimate media playback functionality remains intact while the vulnerability is properly addressed. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in system-level components and highlights the critical need for continuous security monitoring and patch management processes in mobile environments.