CVE-2008-3231 in xine-lib
Summary
by MITRE
xine-lib before 1.1.15 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted OGG file, as demonstrated by playing lol-ffplay.ogg with xine.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-3231 represents a critical denial of service flaw within xine-lib multimedia framework version 1.1.14 and earlier. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of OGG media files, which are widely used multimedia container formats supporting various audio and video codecs. The issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the library's OGG file parser, creating a condition where maliciously crafted OGG files can trigger unexpected behavior in applications that utilize xine-lib for media playback.
The technical flaw manifests when xine-lib processes a specially crafted OGG file that contains malformed or unexpected data structures within its container format. The vulnerability exploits weaknesses in the library's buffer handling and parsing routines, particularly when encountering irregular metadata or corrupted stream data within the OGG container. When an application using xine-lib attempts to play such a malicious file, the library fails to properly validate the file structure, leading to memory corruption or invalid memory access patterns that ultimately result in application crash or complete system hang. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to memory corruption and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged by remote attackers to compromise the availability of multimedia applications and systems that depend on xine-lib. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no authentication or special privileges, making it accessible to any remote user who can convince a victim to play a malicious OGG file through an application using the vulnerable library. This vulnerability affects a broad range of applications including media players, web browsers with embedded media support, and multimedia frameworks that incorporate xine-lib as a core component. The demonstrated exploit using the file name lol-ffplay.ogg illustrates how even seemingly innocuous file names can conceal malicious content designed to target specific library implementations.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to xine-lib version 1.1.15 or later, which contains patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in OGG file handling. Organizations should also consider implementing additional defensive measures such as content filtering for OGG files, sandboxing multimedia applications, and monitoring for unusual application crashes or memory access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation in multimedia libraries and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate programs being used for defense evasion through manipulation of system resources. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious OGG file patterns and prevent their execution in enterprise environments where multimedia content filtering is critical for maintaining operational continuity and preventing potential exploitation chains that could lead to more severe security incidents.