CVE-2017-13186 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Android media framework (libavc) related to incorrect use of mmco parameters. Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-65735716.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13186 represents a critical flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libavc library responsible for handling advanced video coding operations. This issue manifests through improper handling of memory management control operations parameters, creating potential security risks that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability impacts multiple Android versions including 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, and 8.1, indicating a widespread concern across the Android ecosystem. The Android ID A-65735716 further categorizes this issue within the platform's security tracking system, highlighting its significance in the mobile security landscape.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from incorrect usage of mmco parameters, which are memory management control operations used in video decoding processes. When processing certain video content, the libavc library fails to properly validate or handle these parameters, leading to potential memory corruption scenarios. This flaw allows attackers to craft malicious video files that, when processed by the affected Android devices, could trigger unexpected behavior in the media framework. The improper handling of mmco parameters creates opportunities for buffer overflows, memory corruption, or other memory-related vulnerabilities that could be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13186 extends beyond simple media processing failures, potentially enabling attackers to execute malicious code on affected devices. When users encounter or open malicious video content, the vulnerability could be triggered during normal media playback operations, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios. The exploitation of this flaw could result in complete device compromise, unauthorized access to user data, or the ability to escalate privileges within the Android operating system. This vulnerability particularly concerns security professionals due to its potential for remote code execution, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects not just individual applications but the underlying media framework itself, making it a system-level concern rather than an application-specific issue.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android versions through official security updates from Google and device manufacturers. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the Android security patches released in 2017, which specifically address the mmco parameter handling issues within the libavc library. Device administrators should implement robust monitoring for suspicious media file downloads and consider implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious video content. The security community should also consider implementing application sandboxing techniques and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening unknown video files and maintaining updated security software on their devices. These measures align with ATT&CK tactic TA0005 for defense evasion and TA0003 for persistence, as attackers may attempt to establish persistent access through exploitation of such vulnerabilities.