CVE-2017-0777 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A information disclosure vulnerability in the Android media framework (n/a). Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2. Android ID: A-38342499.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0777 represents a critical information disclosure weakness within the Android media framework affecting versions 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2. This flaw resides in the underlying system components responsible for handling multimedia content processing and playback operations. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the media framework's processing pipelines, creating opportunities for unauthorized data exposure. The vulnerability is particularly concerning as it operates at the system level within the Android operating environment, potentially allowing attackers to extract sensitive information from memory regions that should remain protected. Such information disclosure could include system metadata, user data, or other confidential elements processed through the media framework components.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper handling of media file parsing and processing operations where the system fails to properly sanitize input data before processing. When the media framework encounters malformed or specially crafted media files, it may inadvertently expose memory contents through error handling mechanisms or improper buffer management. This behavior aligns with common software security weaknesses categorized under CWE-20, which deals with improper input validation, and CWE-215, which addresses information exposure through hidden data. The flaw manifests when the system attempts to process media content that contains unexpected data structures or malformed elements, causing the framework to leak information from adjacent memory regions or internal processing states.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to Android devices running the affected versions, as it could enable attackers to extract sensitive information without requiring elevated privileges. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure, as the leaked information could potentially be used to construct more sophisticated attacks or to understand the internal workings of the Android system. Attackers could leverage this information disclosure to gain insights into memory layouts, system configurations, or other sensitive data that would normally remain protected. The vulnerability's presence in the media framework means that any application or user interaction involving multimedia content processing could potentially trigger the information leak, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0777 should prioritize the immediate application of security patches provided by Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should ensure that all Android devices running versions 7.0, 7.1.1, or 7.1.2 are updated to the latest security patches available through the Android security bulletin. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions to detect unusual media processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under the Android security framework indicates that it has been properly assessed and addressed through official updates. Additionally, defensive measures including input validation controls and memory sanitization practices should be implemented at application layers to reduce the attack surface. Security teams should consider the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers might attempt to exploit this information disclosure for further system compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that similar weaknesses do not exist in other system components or custom applications that interact with the media framework.