CVE-2017-0852 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. Android ID: A-62815506.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0852 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 vulnerability manifests in Android versions 5.0.2, 5.1.1, and 6.0, making it a widespread issue across multiple Android releases that were prevalent during the mid-2010s. The flaw resides in the video decoding component that processes HEVC (H.265) encoded media files, creating a potential vector for malicious actors to disrupt normal device operations through carefully crafted video content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the libhevc library's parsing mechanisms. When the media framework encounters malformed HEVC video streams, particularly those with malformed headers or incorrect parameter sets, the decoding process fails to properly handle the error conditions. This leads to a crash in the media framework service, which subsequently causes the entire media playback system to become unresponsive. The vulnerability operates at the kernel level within the Android media framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect system stability and potentially provide a foundation for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0852 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can render devices unusable for media playback operations and potentially affect other system components that depend on the media framework. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious HEVC video files through various channels including email attachments, web downloads, or malicious applications. The vulnerability maps to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and CWE-248, which covers exposure of an exception to an application. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and T1059, which encompasses command and scripting interpreter techniques used in exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0852 primarily focus on applying the official Android security patches released by Google, which address the underlying parsing logic in the libhevc library. System administrators and device manufacturers should prioritize immediate deployment of the Android security updates that include fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level filtering to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious HEVC content, particularly in enterprise environments where device management policies can be enforced. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and error handling in media processing components, suggesting that similar security measures should be applied to other multimedia frameworks within the Android ecosystem. Device users should be educated about the risks of downloading media content from untrusted sources, as this vulnerability can be exploited through social engineering techniques that trick users into opening malicious video files.