CVE-2017-13154 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Android media framework (libstagefright). Product: Android. Versions: 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0. Android ID A-63666573.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13154 represents a critical elevation of privilege flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libstagefright component that handles multimedia processing. This vulnerability resides in the Android operating system's core media handling capabilities and was discovered through extensive security research conducted by Google's security team. The flaw affects multiple Android versions including 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, and 8.0, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability was assigned the Android ID A-63666573, reflecting its severity and the systematic approach taken by Google in tracking and addressing security issues within their mobile platform.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within the stagefright media parser. When processing specially crafted media files, the libstagefright component fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocations, leading to potential memory corruption scenarios. This flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the media processing pipeline in a way that could result in arbitrary code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability specifically targets the way the system handles multimedia codecs and file parsing operations, where insufficient bounds checking enables attackers to overwrite critical memory regions. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the media framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring user interaction or device rooting.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple media processing failures, as it provides attackers with the capability to escalate their privileges from regular application-level access to system-level control. This elevation of privilege means that malicious actors could potentially gain full control over affected Android devices, allowing them to install unauthorized applications, access sensitive user data, modify system configurations, and bypass security controls. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require physical device access or user interaction, making it particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through malicious media files delivered via email attachments, messaging applications, or web downloads. The widespread adoption of affected Android versions means that millions of devices could be potentially compromised, creating a significant security risk for both individual users and enterprise environments.
Security researchers have categorized this vulnerability under CWE-121, which describes "Stack-based Buffer Overflow", and the attack pattern aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1068, "Exploitation for Privilege Escalation". Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including applying the latest security patches released by Google, disabling unnecessary media processing capabilities, and implementing network-based filtering to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious media content. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure code practices in system-level components and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of core operating system frameworks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs should prioritize such kernel-level flaws as they represent the most severe threats to device security and user privacy.