CVE-2017-13189 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A vulnerability in the Android media framework (libavc) related to handling dec_hdl memory allocation failures. Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-68300072.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13189 resides within the Android media framework, specifically in the libavc component responsible for handling video decoding operations. This flaw manifests during memory allocation processes when dealing with dec_hdl structures, which are critical for managing decoder handles in the media processing pipeline. The issue affects multiple Android versions including 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, and 8.1, indicating a widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-704, which deals with improper handling of memory allocation failures, making it a critical concern for system stability and security.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the media framework's memory management subsystem. When the system attempts to allocate memory for decoder handles, the code fails to properly validate or handle allocation failures, potentially leading to undefined behavior. This weakness allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted media files that trigger memory allocation errors, causing the media framework to behave unpredictably. The flaw operates at the intersection of memory management and multimedia processing, where the absence of proper error checking mechanisms creates opportunities for exploitation. According to ATT&CK framework reference T1059, this vulnerability could enable code execution through the manipulation of system components during media processing operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-13189 extends beyond simple system instability, as it presents potential pathways for privilege escalation and denial of service attacks. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious media content that causes the system to allocate memory in an unsafe manner, potentially leading to application crashes or more severe system compromises. The vulnerability's presence in multiple Android versions suggests that a significant portion of mobile devices could be at risk, particularly those running the affected releases. This makes the flaw particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with multimedia content, as the attack surface expands to include email attachments, web downloads, and file transfers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Android versions through official security updates provided by device manufacturers. Organizations should prioritize deployment of the latest security patches released by Google and their respective device vendors, as these updates contain fixes for the memory allocation handling issues within libavc. Additionally, implementing network-level controls to filter potentially malicious media content can provide an additional layer of protection. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider deploying behavioral monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous media processing activities. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust error handling in system components, particularly those handling multimedia data, and reinforces the need for comprehensive security testing of media frameworks before deployment.