CVE-2017-0739 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A information disclosure vulnerability in the Android media framework (libhevc). Product: Android. Versions: 5.0.2, 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-37712181.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0739 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libhevc library responsible for handling high efficiency video coding. This issue manifests in Android versions ranging from 5.0.2 through 7.1.2, encompassing a significant portion of the mobile platform's user base. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory operations during video decoding processes, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data exposure.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves a heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing malformed HEVC video streams. The libhevc component fails to properly validate input parameters and buffer boundaries during video frame reconstruction, allowing attackers to manipulate memory contents through crafted malicious video files. This vulnerability operates at the system level within the media framework, bypassing typical application sandboxing mechanisms and potentially exposing sensitive system information. The flaw specifically relates to CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-20, improper input validation, making it particularly dangerous for mobile environments where user interaction with multimedia content is frequent.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Android device security and user privacy. Attackers can exploit this weakness by delivering malicious HEVC video content through various channels including email attachments, messaging applications, or compromised websites. When users view these crafted videos, the vulnerability can trigger information disclosure that may include memory contents, system configuration data, or potentially sensitive user information stored in adjacent memory regions. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as this flaw could potentially enable further exploitation attempts, including privilege escalation or denial of service conditions that compromise overall device integrity.
The security implications of CVE-2017-0739 align with ATT&CK technique T1059, command and scripting interpreter, as it allows for potential execution of malicious code through memory corruption. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1005, data from local system, since it facilitates unauthorized access to system memory contents. Organizations and users must recognize that this vulnerability operates outside of traditional application boundaries, affecting the core media processing capabilities that are fundamental to Android device operation. The Android ID A-37712181 indicates this was properly tracked within Google's security infrastructure, highlighting the severity of the issue. Mitigation strategies should include immediate system updates, implementation of network-based filtering for HEVC content, and enhanced user education regarding suspicious multimedia file handling to prevent exploitation.
The vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of mobile security ecosystems where multimedia frameworks present unique attack surfaces. The libhevc library's interaction with hardware acceleration components further complicates the exploitation landscape, as it may leverage specialized processing units that could amplify the information disclosure impact. Security researchers have noted that similar vulnerabilities in media processing libraries often remain undetected for extended periods due to the specialized nature of multimedia processing and limited testing scenarios. This particular flaw underscores the importance of comprehensive input validation and memory safety practices in system-level components that handle user-provided content, as these components form the foundation of mobile device security.