CVE-2017-13318 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 01/28/2025
In HeifDataSource::readAt of HeifDecoderImpl.cpp, there is a possible out of bounds read due to an integer overflow. This could lead to remote information disclosure with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-13318 resides within the HeifDataSource::readAt function of the HeifDecoderImpl.cpp component, representing a critical security flaw that enables unauthorized information disclosure through remote exploitation. This issue manifests as a potential out of bounds read condition stemming from an integer overflow vulnerability, which fundamentally compromises the integrity of the affected system's memory management mechanisms. The flaw specifically occurs during the processing of HEIF (High Efficiency Image Format) image files, making it particularly dangerous in environments where such media files are frequently handled or processed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow condition that allows an attacker to manipulate memory access patterns beyond the intended boundaries of the data structure. When the HeifDecoderImpl.cpp component processes image data, it calculates memory offsets using integer arithmetic that can overflow when handling specially crafted input files. This overflow results in a situation where the read operation attempts to access memory locations that are outside the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data from adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability's classification as a CWE-191 Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) indicates that the integer arithmetic fails to properly validate the calculated memory addresses, leading to unpredictable memory access patterns that can be exploited to extract confidential information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to potentially extract sensitive data from the application's memory space without requiring elevated privileges or additional execution capabilities. The requirement for user interaction means that exploitation typically occurs when a user opens or processes a malicious HEIF file, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing scenarios. Attackers can craft specially formatted HEIF files that trigger the integer overflow condition during parsing, causing the application to read from unintended memory locations and potentially expose system information, credentials, or other sensitive data. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript, as it involves manipulating data parsing to extract information from memory.
The exploitation of CVE-2017-13318 demonstrates the importance of proper integer overflow protection in memory management functions, particularly when handling untrusted input data. Security practitioners should implement comprehensive bounds checking mechanisms that validate all memory access operations, especially in components that process multimedia file formats. The vulnerability highlights the necessity of using secure coding practices that prevent arithmetic overflows and ensure proper validation of input parameters before memory operations are performed. Mitigation strategies should include input validation, bounds checking, and the implementation of defensive programming techniques that prevent integer overflows from causing memory access violations. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and restricting file type handling to minimize the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components of the system.