CVE-2017-0833 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A remote code execution 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-62896384.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0833 represents a critical remote code execution flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libavc component responsible for handling video encoding and decoding operations. This vulnerability resides in the Android operating system's media processing pipeline and was discovered to be exploitable by malicious actors who could craft specially malformed video files to trigger the vulnerability. The affected versions encompass Android 6.0 through 8.0, indicating a broad impact across multiple Android releases and highlighting the widespread nature of the flaw. The vulnerability was assigned the Android ID A-62896384, reflecting its classification within Google's internal vulnerability tracking system. This issue demonstrates the inherent security risks present in multimedia processing components that handle untrusted input data from various sources, including downloaded media files, streaming content, or attachments from communication applications.
The technical root cause of CVE-2017-0833 stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the libavc library component of the Android media framework. When processing certain video files, particularly those containing malformed H.264 video streams, the framework fails to properly validate the structure and content of the input data, leading to memory corruption vulnerabilities. This memory corruption can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the media processing service, which typically runs with system-level permissions. The vulnerability manifests through buffer overflow conditions where attackers can manipulate the video decoding process to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing for privilege escalation and full system compromise. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, both of which are common attack vectors in multimedia processing components. The exploitation requires the target device to process or preview the malicious video file, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently encounter media content from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple media processing failures, as it creates a significant attack surface that can be leveraged for comprehensive system compromise. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely through various delivery mechanisms including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, or infected media files distributed through social media platforms and file sharing services. The vulnerability's remote execution capability means that users need not interact directly with malicious content to be compromised, as simply opening or previewing a malicious video file can trigger the exploit. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous for mobile environments where users frequently engage with multimedia content from diverse and potentially untrusted sources. The potential for privilege escalation through this vulnerability means that successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over the affected device, including access to personal data, communication capabilities, and network connectivity. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android versions indicates that organizations and individuals running these operating systems face a persistent security risk, requiring immediate attention and remediation efforts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0833 primarily focus on prompt system updates and patch management, as Google released security patches for the affected Android versions to address the underlying memory corruption issues in the libavc component. Organizations should prioritize the deployment of the latest Android security updates, particularly for devices running Android 6.0 through 8.0, as these patches contain the necessary fixes to prevent the memory corruption conditions that enable exploitation. Network administrators should implement additional security controls including media file filtering, sandboxing of media processing applications, and network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious media file handling patterns. The vulnerability's alignment with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and script interpreter execution, indicates that exploitation may involve command injection attacks through the compromised media processing framework. Security teams should also consider implementing mobile device management solutions that can automatically apply security patches and monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Device users should avoid opening media files from untrusted sources and should ensure their devices are running the latest security updates, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to personal and organizational data security in mobile environments.