CVE-2010-3429 in MPlayer
Summary
by MITRE
flicvideo.c in libavcodec 0.6 and earlier in FFmpeg, as used in MPlayer and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted flic file, related to an "arbitrary offset dereference vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3429 represents a critical arbitrary offset dereference flaw within the flicvideo.c component of libavcodec version 0.6 and earlier implementations within the FFmpeg multimedia framework. This vulnerability manifests when processing specially crafted FLIC video files, which are commonly used in legacy multimedia applications and games. The flaw resides in how the software handles memory access patterns during video frame decoding, specifically when dealing with malformed offset values in the FLIC file structure.
This arbitrary offset dereference vulnerability falls under the CWE-128 category of "Wrap-around Error" and can be classified as a memory corruption vulnerability that enables remote code execution. The flaw occurs because the application fails to properly validate offset values within the FLIC file format before using them to access memory locations. When an attacker crafts a malicious FLIC file with manipulated offset values, the decoder attempts to access memory at locations that are outside the intended buffer boundaries, potentially allowing the execution of arbitrary code on the target system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely through web-based attacks or when multimedia applications automatically process untrusted video content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it affects numerous applications that rely on FFmpeg for multimedia processing, including MPlayer and various other media players and content management systems. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web environments where users may unknowingly download and process malicious FLIC files, as the exploitation can occur without user interaction. This makes it a prime target for drive-by download attacks and other automated exploitation techniques. The vulnerability affects not only end-user applications but also server-side systems that process multimedia content, creating potential denial-of-service conditions or unauthorized access points.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-3429 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches to FFmpeg libraries, with organizations urged to upgrade to versions containing fixes for the arbitrary offset dereference issue. System administrators should implement strict content filtering policies to prevent automatic processing of untrusted multimedia files, particularly those in legacy formats like FLIC. Network-level defenses can include implementing sandboxing mechanisms for multimedia processing and deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory access control in multimedia frameworks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of multimedia applications to known good binaries and regularly audit their multimedia processing pipelines for similar memory corruption vulnerabilities. Additionally, security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement proper logging mechanisms to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this and related vulnerabilities.