CVE-2017-13225 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libMtkOmxVdec.so there is a possible heap buffer overflow. This could lead to a remote elevation of privilege enabling code execution as a privileged process with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: Android. Versions: Android kernel. Android ID: A-38308024. References: M-ALPS03495789.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13225 resides within the libMtkOmxVdec.so library component of Android systems, specifically affecting the MediaTek OMX video decoder implementation. This heap buffer overflow represents a critical security flaw that could potentially allow remote code execution with elevated privileges. The vulnerability manifests in the Android kernel environment where the affected component handles video decoding operations, particularly when processing multimedia content from untrusted sources. The flaw exists in the memory management routines of the video decoder, creating conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory buffers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction to trigger the malicious payload, typically through the presentation of specially crafted multimedia content to the affected device. When the video decoder processes this malformed input, the heap buffer overflow occurs during memory allocation and data handling operations. This memory corruption can potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, including function pointers or control data structures that govern execution flow. The vulnerability's classification as a remote privilege escalation means that an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the privileged process, bypassing normal security boundaries that would typically prevent such unauthorized access. The attack vector requires an initial compromise of user interaction, likely through email attachments, web content, or malicious media files that would be processed by the vulnerable video decoder component.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it enables attackers to gain persistent access to affected devices with elevated privileges. This could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of additional malicious software. The vulnerability affects Android kernel implementations and represents a significant risk to mobile device security, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted multimedia content. The affected MediaTek OMX video decoder component demonstrates a failure in input validation and memory management practices that violates fundamental security principles. The presence of this flaw in widely deployed Android systems creates a substantial attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-13225 should focus on immediate patching of affected Android kernel implementations and firmware updates from device manufacturers. Security teams should implement network-based restrictions to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious multimedia content to affected devices. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns and abnormal process behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts. Device vendors should prioritize the deployment of security patches and consider implementing additional input validation layers to prevent similar vulnerabilities in future implementations. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of secure memory management practices in multimedia processing components and the need for comprehensive security testing of system-level libraries that handle untrusted input data.