CVE-2017-13187 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Android media framework (libhevc). Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-65034175.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13187 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libhevc library responsible for handling high efficiency video coding. This issue manifests in Android versions 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, and 8.1, creating a significant security risk for devices running these operating system versions. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory buffers during video decoding processes, particularly when processing malformed HEVC video streams. The flaw allows malicious actors to potentially extract sensitive information from the device's memory through crafted video content, compromising system integrity and user privacy.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a buffer overread condition within the libhevc component of the Android media framework. When processing specially crafted HEVC video files, the decoder fails to properly validate input parameters and buffer boundaries, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns. This behavior aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities that can expose sensitive data. The flaw occurs during the video decoding process where the system attempts to read data beyond the allocated buffer limits, potentially revealing confidential information stored in adjacent memory regions. Attackers can exploit this by embedding malicious code within HEVC video files that trigger the vulnerable code path when the media framework attempts to decode the content.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13187 extends beyond simple information disclosure, creating potential pathways for more sophisticated attacks within the Android ecosystem. This vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for privilege escalation attacks, as the leaked memory information may contain cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive data that could be used to compromise additional system components. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw fits within the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1059.007 for command and control communication, where leaked information could be used to establish persistent access. The vulnerability affects the core media processing capabilities of Android devices, potentially compromising all applications that utilize the media framework for video playback, including messaging apps, web browsers, and media players.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13187 primarily focus on immediate system updates and proactive security measures. Android security patches released in September 2017 addressed this vulnerability through improved buffer validation and memory management within the libhevc library. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant security updates, particularly for devices running the affected Android versions. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as content filtering and video stream sanitization can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider monitoring for suspicious video file handling behaviors and implementing robust application sandboxing to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in media frameworks and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation mechanisms to prevent similar issues in future implementations.