CVE-2017-13204 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
An information disclosure vulnerability in the Android media framework (libavc). Product: Android. Versions: 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-64380237.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13204 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libavc component responsible for video encoding and decoding operations. This vulnerability manifests in Android versions 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, and 8.1, indicating a widespread impact across multiple Android releases that were widely deployed on mobile devices globally. The issue stems from improper handling of memory buffers during video processing operations, creating a potential pathway for unauthorized access to sensitive data that should remain protected within the system's memory space.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in inadequate bounds checking and memory management practices within the libavc library implementation. When processing certain video streams or media files, the framework fails to properly validate buffer sizes and memory access patterns, allowing malicious actors to manipulate memory pointers and potentially read data from adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure. The flaw operates at the kernel level within the media framework, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited without requiring elevated privileges or user interaction.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it can potentially expose sensitive information including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or proprietary application data stored in memory. Attackers could leverage this weakness to perform memory scraping operations, potentially extracting confidential information from running processes or system memory. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the T1005 - Data from Local System technique, as it enables adversaries to access sensitive data directly from the device's memory without requiring network-based exploitation. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for enterprise environments where Android devices may contain corporate data or for users storing sensitive personal information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate deployment of security patches provided by Google through the Android Security Bulletins, as well as implementing additional protective measures such as application sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify devices running affected Android versions and prioritize their remediation. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking and memory validation procedures within the libavc library, ensuring that all memory operations are properly validated before execution. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from arising in future implementations.