CVE-2018-9444 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In ih264d_video_decode of ih264d_api.c there is a possible resource exhaustion due to an infinite loop. This could lead to remote temporary device denial of service (remote hang or reboot) with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: Android Versions: Android-6.0 Android-6.0.1 Android-7.0 Android-7.1.1 Android-7.1.2 Android ID: A-63521984.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9444 resides within the ih264d_video_decode function of the ih264d_api.c file, representing a critical resource exhaustion flaw that can lead to remote device denial of service conditions. This issue affects multiple Android versions including 6.0, 6.0.1, 7.0, 7.1.1, and 7.1.2, demonstrating the widespread impact across the Android ecosystem. The vulnerability manifests as an infinite loop that consumes system resources, potentially causing temporary device hangs or requiring reboot operations to restore normal functionality. The exploit requires user interaction for successful exploitation, meaning an attacker must convince a victim to perform a specific action such as opening a malicious file or media content. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the category of user-triggered remote attacks rather than purely automated threats. The technical implementation of this flaw involves the video decoding process where malformed or specially crafted h.264 video streams can cause the decoder to enter an infinite loop state, consuming CPU cycles and memory resources without proper termination conditions. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-835, which specifically addresses infinite loops or other forms of indefinite iteration that can lead to resource exhaustion and system instability. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant concern for Android device manufacturers and users alike, as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious email attachments, compromised websites, or infected media files. The remote nature of the attack means that an adversary can potentially compromise devices without requiring local access or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with untrusted content. The Android ID A-63521984 assigned to this vulnerability indicates its proper categorization within Google's security tracking system, emphasizing the severity and need for immediate attention. The resource exhaustion aspect of this vulnerability directly relates to the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation and resource exhaustion tactics, where adversaries seek to consume system resources to render devices unusable or force system restarts. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the infinite loop can potentially cause system crashes, data corruption, or even trigger cascading failures in dependent system components. The fact that this vulnerability affects video decoding functionality makes it particularly concerning given that multimedia content is one of the most frequently encountered types of user data on mobile devices. The exploitability requirements, while necessitating user interaction, suggest that social engineering attacks could be particularly effective in leveraging this vulnerability. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability highlights the importance of input validation and proper error handling in multimedia processing components, as inadequate bounds checking or malformed input handling can lead to such resource exhaustion conditions. The vulnerability underscores the need for robust testing procedures, including fuzzing and adversarial input testing, to identify potential infinite loop conditions in multimedia codecs and processing libraries. Organizations should prioritize patch deployment for affected Android versions and implement monitoring for suspicious resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a remote denial of service threat necessitates consideration of network-based attack scenarios where adversaries can remotely trigger the infinite loop condition through specially crafted video content delivered via various communication channels. This type of vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of multimedia processing systems and the challenges in ensuring complete input validation across diverse media formats and codecs. The security implications extend to enterprise environments where mobile device management solutions must account for such vulnerabilities in their patch management and threat detection strategies. The vulnerability's presence in the core video decoding library indicates that it affects a fundamental system component, making comprehensive system hardening and regular security updates essential for protection against exploitation attempts.