CVE-2019-9348 in Android
Summary
by MITRE
In libstagefright, there is a possible resource exhaustion due to improper input validation. This could lead to remote denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation. Product: AndroidVersions: Android-10Android ID: A-128431761
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-9348 resides within the libstagefright media framework component of Android operating systems, specifically affecting Android 10 and earlier versions. This issue represents a resource exhaustion flaw that stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the multimedia processing pipeline. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes malformed media files or malformed input data through the stagefright framework, which is responsible for handling various multimedia formats including mp4, 3gp, and other container formats. The improper validation allows an attacker to craft specially designed media files that can trigger excessive resource consumption during parsing and processing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a remote denial of service attack vector that requires user interaction to initiate. An attacker can deliver a malicious media file through various channels such as email attachments, messaging applications, or web downloads, where the victim must interact with the content for exploitation to occur. When the victim opens or plays the malicious media file, the libstagefright component attempts to parse the malformed data without proper bounds checking or resource limiting mechanisms. This leads to the exhaustion of critical system resources including memory allocation, CPU cycles, and file descriptor limits, ultimately causing the media framework to crash or become unresponsive.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a significant security concern for mobile device users and organizations relying on Android platforms. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no special privileges or execution rights to exploit, making it accessible to any attacker who can convince a user to interact with malicious content. The resource exhaustion can lead to complete system instability, preventing normal media playback functionality and potentially affecting other system operations that depend on the multimedia framework. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-770, which describes allocation of resources without limits or with inadequate limits, and represents a classic example of how improper input validation can lead to denial of service conditions.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is extensive given that stagefright is a core component of Android's multimedia architecture and handles media processing across numerous applications and services. This vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "Endpoint Denial of Service" through resource exhaustion attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched Android versions, implementing network-level filtering of suspicious media content, and educating users about the risks of opening untrusted media files. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation and resource management in mobile operating systems, particularly in components that process untrusted user input from various sources. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability can be used as a vector for more sophisticated attacks that build upon the initial denial of service condition.