Google Android up to 4.x/5.x Mediaserver memory corruption

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.6$5k-$25k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability categorized as critical has been discovered in Google Android up to 4.x/5.x. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component Mediaserver. Such manipulation leads to memory corruption. This vulnerability is uniquely identified as CVE-2016-0836. Local access is required to approach this attack. No exploit exists. It is advisable to upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Google Android up to 4.x/5.x (Smartphone Operating System) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown functionality of the component Mediaserver. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a memory corruption vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-119. The product performs operations on a memory buffer, but it can read from or write to a memory location that is outside of the intended boundary of the buffer. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

Stack-based buffer overflow in decoder/impeg2d_vld.c in mediaserver in Android 6.x before 2016-04-01 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted media file, aka internal bug 25812590.

The weakness was disclosed 04/04/2016 as ANDROID-25812590 as confirmed security bulletin (Website). The advisory is shared for download at source.android.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2016-0836 since 12/16/2015. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $5k-$25k (estimation calculated on 09/13/2025). It is expected to see the exploit prices for this product increasing in the near future.

The vulnerability was handled as a non-public zero-day exploit for at least 137 days. During that time the estimated underground price was around $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 264296 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-0836), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

Upgrading to version 6.0 or 6.0.1 eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (264296) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-57928†). The entries VDB-81567, VDB-81568, VDB-81569 and VDB-81570 are pretty similar. Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.6

VulDB Base Score: 7.8
VulDB Temp Score: 7.5
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 7.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Memory corruption
CWE: CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 264296
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-0836

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍

Upgrade: Android 6.0/6.0.1

Timelineinfo

11/19/2015 🔍
12/16/2015 +27 days 🔍
04/02/2016 +108 days 🔍
04/04/2016 +2 days 🔍
04/04/2016 +0 days 🔍
04/05/2016 +1 days 🔍
04/05/2016 +0 days 🔍
04/17/2016 +11 days 🔍
09/13/2025 +3436 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: google.com

Advisory: ANDROID-25812590
Status: Confirmed
Confirmation: 🔍

CVE: CVE-2016-0836 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-0836
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-81572
Vulnerability Center: 57928 - Google Android 6.0 and 6.0.1 before 2016-04-02 Remote Code Execution in Mediaserver - CVE-2016-0836, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20150917
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 04/05/2016 09:13
Updated: 09/13/2025 20:55
Changes: 04/05/2016 09:13 (64), 02/03/2019 10:47 (10), 09/13/2025 20:55 (18)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216:346:103

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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