CVE-2008-4869 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
FFmpeg 0.4.9, as used by MPlayer, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via unknown vectors, aka a "Tcp/udp memory leak."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4869 represents a critical memory consumption issue affecting FFmpeg version 0.4.9 when integrated into MPlayer media playback software. This flaw manifests as a context-dependent denial of service condition that specifically targets TCP and UDP network protocols within the multimedia processing framework. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during network stream processing, creating a scenario where memory allocation occurs without adequate cleanup mechanisms, leading to progressive memory exhaustion over time.
This memory leak vulnerability operates through network-based attack vectors that exploit the underlying TCP and UDP protocols used by FFmpeg for media stream reception and processing. The issue is particularly concerning because it affects multimedia applications that handle network streams, making it exploitable in scenarios where attackers can control or influence the network data flow to target systems running vulnerable versions of MPlayer or applications built on the FFmpeg 0.4.9 framework. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation requires specific conditions related to network communication patterns and data flow characteristics.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-4869 extends beyond simple service disruption to create significant system stability issues. As memory consumption gradually increases due to the leak, affected systems may experience performance degradation, application crashes, or complete system instability. In server environments or embedded systems with limited memory resources, this vulnerability can quickly escalate to complete system failure, making it particularly dangerous in production environments where continuous operation is critical. The vulnerability affects the fundamental network processing capabilities of multimedia applications, undermining their reliability and availability.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-401, which specifically addresses improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks. The flaw demonstrates poor resource management practices in network protocol handling and highlights the importance of proper memory lifecycle management in multimedia processing libraries. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, implement network monitoring for unusual memory consumption patterns, and establish robust application sandboxing measures to prevent exploitation. Additionally, regular security assessments of multimedia frameworks and network processing components should be conducted to identify similar memory management issues that could lead to similar denial of service conditions.