CVE-2008-5239 in xine-lib
Summary
by MITRE
xine-lib 1.1.12, and other 1.1.15 and earlier versions, does not properly handle (a) negative and (b) zero values during unspecified read function calls in input_file.c, input_net.c, input_smb.c, and input_http.c, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors such as (1) a file or (2) an HTTP response, which triggers consequences such as out-of-bounds reads and heap-based buffer overflows.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5239 affects xine-lib versions 1.1.12 and earlier, including the 1.1.15 release, representing a critical security flaw in multimedia library software that processes various input sources. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of negative and zero values during read operations within multiple input modules, specifically in input_file.c, input_net.c, input_smb.c, and input_http.c components. The flaw exists in the core input processing mechanisms that handle file system operations, network streams, smb shares, and http responses, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through multiple attack vectors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the absence of proper input validation and boundary checking within the read function calls across different input modules. When xine-lib encounters negative or zero values during read operations, the software fails to properly validate these inputs before processing them, leading to unpredictable behavior. This improper handling creates conditions where out-of-bounds memory reads can occur, potentially allowing attackers to access memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. The heap-based buffer overflows that result from this vulnerability can be particularly severe as they may provide attackers with opportunities to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5239 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability can potentially enable remote code execution. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting malicious files or HTTP responses that contain negative or zero values in read function parameters, causing the application to crash or potentially execute unintended code. The vulnerability affects multiple input sources simultaneously, meaning that an attacker could exploit it through various means including local file manipulation, network-based attacks against web servers, or through network shares. This multi-vector exploit capability significantly increases the attack surface and makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-129 in the Common Weakness Enumeration, specifically addressing improper validation of array indices and buffer overflows. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and code execution through memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's classification as a heap-based buffer overflow and out-of-bounds read demonstrates the severity of improper input validation in multimedia processing libraries, where attackers can manipulate input parameters to cause memory corruption. Organizations using xine-lib in multimedia applications, streaming services, or media processing systems are particularly at risk as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely through HTTP servers or networked file systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5239 require immediate patching of affected xine-lib versions to the latest stable releases that contain proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms. System administrators should ensure that all instances of xine-lib are updated to versions that have addressed the negative and zero value handling issues in the input modules. Network segmentation and firewall rules should be implemented to limit access to systems running xine-lib, particularly those exposed to untrusted network traffic or file uploads. Additionally, implementing input validation at network boundaries and monitoring for unusual file access patterns can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Regular security audits and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potentially vulnerable multimedia libraries or applications that may be susceptible to similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.