CVE-2012-2773 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in FFmpeg before 0.10.3 has unknown impact and attack vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-2771, CVE-2012-2778, CVE-2012-2780, and CVE-2012-2781.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2773 represents a significant security flaw within the FFmpeg multimedia framework prior to version 0.10.3. This issue resides within the core multimedia processing libraries that form the backbone of numerous applications and systems relying on video and audio manipulation capabilities. FFmpeg serves as a critical component in media processing pipelines across various platforms including web applications, content management systems, digital media servers, and enterprise multimedia solutions. The vulnerability's classification as unspecified indicates that the exact nature of the flaw was not fully disclosed in the initial advisory, creating uncertainty for security practitioners and system administrators tasked with assessing risk exposure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within FFmpeg's multimedia parsing routines. Attackers could potentially exploit this weakness through maliciously crafted media files that, when processed by vulnerable FFmpeg implementations, could trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying software stack. The vulnerability's distinction from related CVEs including CVE-2012-2771, CVE-2012-2778, CVE-2012-2780, and CVE-2012-2781 demonstrates that this represents a unique attack surface within the multimedia processing pipeline. This separation suggests that while multiple vulnerabilities exist within the same software version, each requires specific exploitation techniques and presents distinct risk profiles that must be addressed through targeted remediation approaches.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2773 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, potentially enabling remote code execution or privilege escalation depending on the specific exploitation vector. Systems that process untrusted media content, such as content management systems, web applications accepting user uploads, media streaming platforms, and digital asset management solutions, face significant risk exposure. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed FFmpeg versions means that numerous applications across different industries could be affected, including those in healthcare, financial services, government, and entertainment sectors. Organizations utilizing FFmpeg in their infrastructure must consider the potential for unauthorized access to systems, data compromise, or complete system takeover through exploitation of this vulnerability.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2773 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patch management procedures. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to FFmpeg version 0.10.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing input validation controls and content sanitization measures can provide additional defense-in-depth layers against exploitation attempts. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit potential attack surface exposure. The vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1203 Exploitation for Credential Access and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as exploitation could lead to unauthorized system access and command execution. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to prevent similar vulnerabilities from remaining unaddressed in future software releases, as this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current multimedia processing libraries in enterprise environments.