The November security update for Nexus devices fixes seven vulnerabilities, two of them critical New security patches for Google’s Nexus devices address seven vulnerabilities, two of which are critical and could allow for remote code execution when handling media files.The updates, released on Monday, are part of Google’s recently introduced monthly patch cycle and are available for Nexus devices running both Android 5.1 (Lollipop) and 6.0 (Marshmallow). The source code for the fixes will also be added to the Android Open Source Project (AOSP) over the next 48 hours.The most serious flaws patched in this release are tracked as CVE-2015-6608 and CVE-2015-6609, and are located in the mediaserver and libutils components of Android, respectively. Both vulnerabilities can be exploited remotely through specially crafted media files.Hackers could remotely exploit the vulnerabilities in multiple ways, including sending MMS messages and tricking users to play media in the browser. These are just the latest in a string of critical vulnerabilities found and patched in Android’s media playback components since July, when a vulnerability in a library called Stagefright led to a major coordinated patching effort from Android device manufacturers and prompted Google, Samsung and LG to introduce monthly security updates.In fact, three other flaws fixed in this new update that rated as high severity are located in mediaserver, libstagefright and libmedia — all media processing components. The remaining two vulnerabilities are in the Bluetooth and Telephony components. Google notes that its severity assessment doesn’t take into account the mitigations that can make exploiting such flaws more difficult. They include the Verify Apps and SafetyNet services that monitor for potentially harmful applications, disabling automatic media processing in applications like Google Hangouts and Messenger, and anti-exploitation techniques present in newer versions of Android. Related content news Chinese state actors behind espionage attacks on Southeast Asian government The distinct groups of activities formed three different clusters, each attributed to a specific APT group. By Shweta Sharma Sep 25, 2023 4 mins Advanced Persistent Threats Advanced Persistent Threats Cyberattacks feature How to pick the best endpoint detection and response solution EDR software has emerged as one of the preeminent tools in the CISO’s arsenal. Here’s what to look for and what to avoid when choosing EDR software. By Linda Rosencrance Sep 25, 2023 10 mins Intrusion Detection Software Security Monitoring Software Data and Information Security feature Top cybersecurity M&A deals for 2023 Fears of recession, rising interest rates, mass tech layoffs, and conservative spending trends are likely to make dealmakers cautious, but an ever-increasing need to defend against bigger and faster attacks will likely keep M&A activity steady in By CSO Staff Sep 22, 2023 24 mins Mergers and Acquisitions Data and Information Security IT Leadership brandpost Unmasking ransomware threat clusters: Why it matters to defenders Similar patterns of behavior among ransomware treat groups can help security teams better understand and prepare for attacks By Joan Goodchild Sep 21, 2023 3 mins Cybercrime Podcasts Videos Resources Events SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER From our editors straight to your inbox Get started by entering your email address below. Please enter a valid email address Subscribe