CVE-2017-0772 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, 8.0. Android ID: A-38115076.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2019
The CVE-2017-0772 vulnerability represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libavc component responsible for video decoding operations. This vulnerability resides in the Android operating system's multimedia processing pipeline and manifests when the system encounters malformed or maliciously crafted video content during the decoding process. The issue impacts multiple Android versions including 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, and 8.0, indicating a widespread exposure across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling mechanisms within the video codec processing subsystem, creating a condition where malformed input can cause the media framework to crash or become unresponsive.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the libavc library's handling of video frame data during the decoding process, where specific patterns of corrupted or malformed video data can trigger an out-of-bounds memory access or buffer overflow condition. When an application processes video content through the Android media framework, particularly when using the MediaCodec or related APIs, the vulnerability can be exploited by feeding specially crafted video streams that cause the underlying decoder to enter an undefined state. This flaw operates at the system level within the media framework, bypassing typical application-level sandboxing mechanisms and potentially affecting all applications that utilize the Android media processing capabilities. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which aligns with the behavior of accessing memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries during video decoding operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the entire Android device functionality. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause the media framework to crash, leading to application termination or complete system instability. This denial of service condition affects not only individual applications but can also impact the overall system responsiveness, particularly when the media framework is actively processing multiple concurrent video streams. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious video files or streams that, when played through any media application, trigger the vulnerable code path and cause system crashes or hangs. The attack vector typically involves sending specially formatted video content through various channels including email attachments, messaging applications, or web-based media playback, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently consume multimedia content. This vulnerability directly relates to ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the use of application execution to exploit system vulnerabilities, and can be classified under the broader category of system-level exploitation techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0772 primarily focus on applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which include fixes to the libavc library and enhanced input validation mechanisms. Organizations and users should prioritize updating to the latest Android versions that contain the patched media framework components, particularly Android 7.1.2 and 8.0, which include comprehensive fixes for this vulnerability. System administrators should implement proactive monitoring of media processing activities and consider implementing content filtering mechanisms to prevent the processing of untrusted video content. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices within the Android media framework, emphasizing the need for robust input validation, proper memory management, and comprehensive error handling in system-level components. The fix typically involves implementing bounds checking, sanitizing input data, and ensuring that all buffer operations within the video decoding pipeline are properly validated before processing. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies for media applications and establishing incident response procedures specifically targeting media framework vulnerabilities to minimize the potential impact of similar future exploits.