CVE-2017-0773 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A denial of service 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, 8.0. Android ID: A-37615911.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0773 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libhevc library responsible for handling high efficiency video coding. This issue manifests in Android versions spanning from 5.0.2 through 8.0, creating a substantial attack surface across multiple platform releases. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation mechanisms within the video decoding pipeline, particularly when processing malformed HEVC video streams. The affected libhevc component operates as part of the broader Android multimedia stack, handling video decoding operations that are fundamental to media playback across various applications and system services.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted malicious HEVC video content that triggers an out-of-bounds memory access condition within the libhevc library. When the media framework attempts to decode such malformed video data, the processing routine fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during the parsing of video headers and frame data structures. This leads to memory corruption that ultimately results in process termination and system instability. The flaw operates at the kernel-level media processing components and can be triggered through various attack vectors including email attachments, web content, or media file downloads. The vulnerability specifically maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities in memory management.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0773 extends beyond simple service disruption to encompass potential system-wide instability and user experience degradation. Affected devices may experience complete media playback failures, system crashes during video processing, or even complete device reboots when encountering malicious video content. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through web-based attacks or via malicious file transfers, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently encounter untrusted media content. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can effectively render devices unusable for media-related functions, creating a denial of service condition that impacts both personal and enterprise device security. The issue demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks targeting system resources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch deployment through Android security updates, as the flaw exists in the core media framework libraries. Device manufacturers must ensure timely delivery of security patches to affected Android versions, particularly focusing on the vulnerable libhevc component. Users should maintain updated Android systems and avoid downloading media content from untrusted sources. Network-level protections can include implementing content filtering for video files and monitoring for suspicious media processing activities. Security researchers recommend implementing additional input validation layers and memory boundary checks within media processing components. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust memory safety practices in multimedia frameworks and underscores the need for comprehensive testing of edge cases in video codec implementations. Organizations should also consider implementing device monitoring solutions to detect anomalous media processing behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.