CVE-2011-0723 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
FFmpeg 0.5.x, as used in MPlayer and other products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a malformed VC-1 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0723 represents a critical security flaw within FFmpeg version 0.5.x and its derivatives used in MPlayer and other multimedia applications. This issue stems from insufficient input validation and memory handling within the VC-1 video codec parser, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate the software through specially crafted malformed VC-1 files. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multimedia processing and memory safety, where improper bounds checking and buffer handling mechanisms fail to adequately protect against maliciously constructed data streams.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the exploitation of memory corruption patterns within the VC-1 decoder component of FFmpeg. When processing malformed VC-1 files, the software fails to properly validate the structure and content of the video stream, leading to buffer overflows or other memory-related exceptions. This flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through network-based media delivery, making it applicable to web-based media players and streaming applications. Attackers can craft specific VC-1 file structures that cause the application to jump to invalid memory locations or execute unintended code sequences.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0723 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential arbitrary code execution capabilities. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability can allow remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the affected application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects not only individual user systems but also server environments that process multimedia content, including web servers, media streaming platforms, and content delivery networks. The attack surface is particularly broad given that FFmpeg is integrated into numerous applications and operating systems, making the exploitation potential widespread across different computing environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates and patches from vendors, as the flaw exists within core multimedia processing libraries. System administrators should prioritize updating all instances of FFmpeg 0.5.x and related applications such as MPlayer to versions that include proper input validation and memory handling mechanisms. Additionally, network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing of multimedia processing components can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as exploitation may involve code injection within the media processing pipeline. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of vulnerable systems and establish monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous media processing behaviors.