CVE-2017-8275 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In Android before security patch level 2018-04-05 on Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile SD 210/SD 212/SD 205, SD 400, SD 430, SD 450, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 820, SD 835, an integer overflow vulnerability exists in a video library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-8275 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the video processing libraries of various Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms. This issue affects Android devices prior to the security patch level 2018-04-05 and specifically targets the Qualcomm Snapdragon Mobile chipset variants including SD 210, SD 212, SD 205, SD 400, SD 430, SD 450, SD 617, SD 625, SD 650/52, SD 800, SD 808, SD 820, and SD 835 processors. The flaw resides in the video library component that handles multimedia processing operations, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to exploit device vulnerabilities through crafted video content.
The technical implementation of this integer overflow vulnerability occurs within the video decoding and processing routines where insufficient input validation leads to improper handling of numerical values exceeding their allocated storage limits. When processing specially crafted video files, the system's video library fails to properly validate integer parameters, allowing attackers to manipulate buffer sizes and memory allocation values. This overflow condition can result in memory corruption, where adjacent memory locations become overwritten with unintended data, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the video processing context. The vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-190, which categorizes integer overflow conditions as a fundamental software flaw that can enable privilege escalation and system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple media playback manipulation, as it creates a potential attack vector for remote code execution on affected devices. Mobile device users who encounter malicious video content through various channels including email attachments, messaging applications, or web downloads could inadvertently trigger the exploit. The attack surface is particularly concerning given the widespread deployment of affected Snapdragon processors across numerous Android smartphone and tablet models from major manufacturers. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to gain elevated privileges within the device's multimedia processing environment, potentially enabling persistent access or data exfiltration capabilities.
Organizations and device users should prioritize immediate implementation of the security patch released on April 5, 2018, which addresses the integer overflow condition through proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms. Device manufacturers should ensure comprehensive testing of firmware updates to verify that all affected Snapdragon variants receive proper remediation. Network administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through security information and event management systems, as this vulnerability may be leveraged in targeted attacks against mobile devices. The mitigation strategy should include regular security patch deployment, user education regarding suspicious media content, and implementation of network-based filtering to prevent access to potentially malicious video files. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure coding practices in mobile multimedia processing components and highlights the need for continuous security assessment of embedded system libraries.