CVE-2017-0758 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution 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-36492741.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0758 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libhevc library responsible for handling high efficiency video coding. This issue resides in the Android operating system's multimedia processing capabilities and affects multiple versions including Android 5.0.2 through 7.1.2, making it a widespread concern across several Android releases. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed video data during the decoding process, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on affected devices.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HEVC video streams that are processed by the libhevc component. When the media framework encounters malformed or specially crafted HEVC video data, the decoding routine fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically aligns with CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates characteristics of a heap-based memory corruption issue that allows for privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to Android users as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, or infected media files downloaded from untrusted sources. The remote nature of the vulnerability means that attackers do not require physical access to devices to exploit this flaw, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with untrusted content. The impact extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially enable broader network infiltration and data exfiltration activities.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including prompt deployment of Android security patches released by Google, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in the libhevc library. Organizations should also consider network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious video content. Additionally, device administrators should enforce strict application permissions and monitor for unusual network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in multimedia frameworks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as exploitation often involves executing malicious code through compromised media processing components. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other media processing libraries and components within the Android ecosystem.