CVE-2012-0847 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the avfilter_filter_samples function in libavfilter/avfilter.c in FFmpeg before 0.9.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted media file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0847 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's audio filtering component. This flaw exists in the avfilter_filter_samples function located in libavfilter/avfilter.c, affecting FFmpeg versions prior to 0.9.1. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking when processing audio samples through the audio filter chain, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered by malformed media files. The heap-based nature of the overflow indicates that the vulnerability occurs in dynamically allocated memory regions, making it particularly dangerous as it can lead to memory corruption and application instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of audio sample data during the filtering process. When FFmpeg processes audio streams through its filter graph, the avfilter_filter_samples function receives input audio data and applies various audio processing operations. The flaw manifests when the function fails to properly validate the size or structure of incoming audio sample buffers, allowing an attacker to craft a malicious media file that contains oversized or malformed audio data. This malformed data causes the function to write beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to crash the application or potentially execute arbitrary code.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that utilize FFmpeg for media processing, particularly those that automatically process user-uploaded content or handle untrusted media files. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability without requiring local access, making it particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, or media processing services. The denial of service impact can be severe, as application crashes can disrupt legitimate services and potentially lead to complete system unavailability. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including media servers, streaming platforms, video editing software, and any system that relies on FFmpeg for audio processing capabilities.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-0847 primarily focus on immediate software updates and version management. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to FFmpeg version 0.9.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the heap buffer overflow. Additionally, implementing proper input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the risk of exploitation, particularly in environments where upgrading is not immediately possible. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation that can lead to memory corruption. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities, and T1499, related to network denial of service attacks, as the primary impact is application instability and service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and content filtering to prevent the processing of untrusted media files until proper patches are deployed.