CVE-2017-13297 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
A information disclosure vulnerability in the Android media framework (libhevc). Product: Android. Versions: 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, 7.1.2, 8.0, 8.1. Android ID: A-71766721.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/22/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13297 represents a critical information disclosure flaw within the Android media framework, specifically affecting the libhevc component responsible for handling high efficiency video coding. This issue manifests in Android versions ranging from 6.0 through 8.1, indicating a widespread impact across multiple platform releases. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management practices within the video decoding pipeline, creating potential pathways for unauthorized data exposure.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of malformed HEVC video streams during decoding processes, where the libhevc library fails to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory allocations. This deficiency allows attackers to craft specially crafted video content that can trigger memory corruption conditions, potentially leading to information disclosure through heap-based memory access violations. The vulnerability operates at the system level within the media framework, leveraging the underlying hardware and software interfaces that process multimedia content. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read, which specifically addresses the reading of memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries, and CWE-200: Information Exposure, which encompasses the unintended disclosure of information through various attack vectors.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it creates potential opportunities for attackers to extract sensitive information from system memory. When exploited, the vulnerability could allow adversaries to access confidential data residing in memory segments, potentially including user credentials, application data, or system configuration details. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the vulnerability affects core media processing functionality that is frequently utilized by both legitimate applications and potentially malicious content. This information disclosure could enable further exploitation attempts, including privilege escalation or additional attack vectors that leverage the leaked information.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as particularly dangerous due to its potential for remote exploitation through malicious media content. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a technique involving information gathering and privilege escalation, as the initial information disclosure can serve as a foundation for more sophisticated attacks. Mitigation strategies include immediate system updates and patches provided by Google, which address the memory handling issues within the libhevc library. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious media processing activities and consider network-level controls to restrict potentially malicious media content. Additionally, the vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation in multimedia frameworks and demonstrates the critical need for security testing of media processing components. The Android security team's response included modifications to buffer management routines and enhanced validation checks within the media framework to prevent similar issues in future implementations.