CVE-2017-13193 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In ihevcd_decode.c there is a possible infinite loop due to bytes for an sps of unsupported resolution resulting in the same sps being fed in over and over. This could lead to a remote denial of service of a critical system process with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is not needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: 5.1.1, 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-65718319.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2017-13193 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Android media processing framework, specifically affecting the ihevcd_decode.c component responsible for video decoding operations. This issue manifests as an infinite loop condition that occurs when processing Sequence Parameter Set (SPS) data structures containing unsupported resolution parameters. The flaw exists in the video decoder's handling of malformed or unsupported video streams, where the decoder repeatedly processes the same invalid SPS data without proper termination conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the video decoding pipeline. When an SPS structure specifies a resolution that the decoder does not support or recognize, the decoding logic fails to properly handle this exceptional condition. Instead of gracefully rejecting the invalid data or terminating the decoding process, the system enters a loop where the same malformed SPS data is continuously reprocessed, causing the affected system process to consume excessive CPU resources. This behavior is classified as a CWE-835: Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition, which represents a fundamental flaw in control flow management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe as it can lead to complete system denial of service without requiring any privileged execution context or user interaction. The affected Android versions including 5.1.1 through 8.1 all contain this flaw, making it a widespread issue across multiple generations of the Android operating system. Critical system processes that handle media decoding become unresponsive, potentially affecting not just media applications but also underlying system services that depend on proper resource allocation. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious video content delivered via various channels such as email attachments, web pages, or file transfers, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently encounter untrusted media content.
From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.001: Endpoint Denial of Service, specifically targeting system resources through process consumption. The flaw requires no additional privileges beyond normal user execution capabilities, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise. The exploitability is further enhanced by the fact that the vulnerability can be triggered through standard media processing workflows, meaning legitimate applications and system components can be used to deliver the malicious payload. The Android ID A-65718319 indicates this was properly tracked and acknowledged by Google's security team, highlighting its significance in the Android security ecosystem. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including system updates, input validation restrictions, and monitoring for abnormal CPU usage patterns in media processing services to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.