CVE-2011-2160 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The VC-1 decoding functionality in FFmpeg before 0.5.4, as used in MPlayer and other products, does not properly restrict read operations, which allows remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via a crafted VC-1 file, a related issue to CVE-2011-0723.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2015
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2160 represents a critical flaw in the VC-1 video decoding implementation within FFmpeg versions prior to 0.5.4. This issue affects not only FFmpeg itself but also numerous downstream applications including MPlayer that rely on FFmpeg's multimedia processing capabilities. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory access controls within the video decoder's handling of VC-1 format files, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system through carefully crafted media content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as improper restriction of read operations within the VC-1 decoding pipeline, which falls under CWE-125 - Out-of-bounds Read. This flaw allows attackers to construct specially formatted VC-1 files that, when processed by vulnerable software, trigger memory access violations or unexpected behavior patterns. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the decoding level where input validation should be most stringent, enabling attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. The relationship to CVE-2011-0723 indicates this represents a broader class of vulnerabilities affecting VC-1 decoding implementations across multiple multimedia frameworks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous applications and systems that utilize FFmpeg's VC-1 decoding capabilities, creating widespread exposure across media processing environments. Attackers could remotely exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious VC-1 files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or media sharing platforms. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests potential for both remote code execution and system instability, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for multimedia processing systems. Organizations using affected versions of MPlayer, FFmpeg, or other products relying on this library face significant risk of compromise when processing untrusted media content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2160 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches to FFmpeg versions 0.5.4 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for the VC-1 decoding implementation. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected applications and frameworks that depend on vulnerable FFmpeg versions, including but not limited to MPlayer, VLC Media Player, and various media servers. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation for media files, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file transfers, and establishing secure media processing workflows that sanitize input before decoding. Organizations should also consider network segmentation to limit exposure and implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized media processing applications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia libraries and following security best practices for handling untrusted media content in enterprise environments.