CVE-2017-0879 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Android media framework (n/a). Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0. Android ID A-65025028.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0879 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android media framework that affects multiple versions including Android 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, and 8.0. This vulnerability resides in the underlying media processing components that handle multimedia content and system interactions. The issue stems from improper handling of memory structures during media file processing, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data exposure. The Android ID A-65025028 specifically identifies this vulnerability within Google's internal tracking system, indicating its significance within the Android security ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption patterns that occur when the media framework processes certain malformed or specially crafted media files. The flaw manifests during the parsing and handling of media data structures, where insufficient bounds checking and memory management practices allow for information leakage from protected system memory regions. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-200 which categorizes information exposure flaws, and can be classified as a memory safety issue within the broader context of software security vulnerabilities. The vulnerability operates at the system level where media processing components interact with kernel memory spaces, potentially exposing sensitive information such as kernel memory contents, system pointers, or other confidential data structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0879 extends beyond simple information disclosure as it creates potential attack vectors for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain insights into the system memory layout, which serves as foundational information for advanced exploitation methods including privilege escalation or remote code execution. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android versions indicates a widespread issue affecting a significant portion of mobile devices, making it particularly concerning from a security perspective. This information disclosure could enable attackers to bypass security mechanisms, understand system internals, or facilitate other attacks that require knowledge of memory structures and system configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android versions through official security updates from Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management protocols to ensure timely deployment of security patches across all managed devices. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory management practices in system-level components and highlights the need for thorough security testing of media processing frameworks. Additionally, implementing network-based monitoring solutions can help detect exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, while maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds provides early warning capabilities for similar memory corruption issues. Security professionals should also consider the ATT&CK framework's relevance in understanding how this vulnerability might be leveraged in broader attack chains, particularly in scenarios involving privilege escalation or information gathering phases of cyber operations.