CVE-2012-2789 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the avi_read_packet function in libavformat/avidec.c in FFmpeg before 0.11, and Libav 0.7.x before 0.7.7 and 0.8.x before 0.8.4, has unknown impact and attack vectors, related to a large number of vector coded coefficients (num_vec_coeffs).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2789 represents a critical security flaw affecting multimedia processing libraries widely used across various software applications and operating systems. This vulnerability resides within the avi_read_packet function located in the libavformat/avidec.c file of FFmpeg and its derivative Libav library. The issue specifically relates to improper handling of vector coded coefficients within AVI video files, creating potential for arbitrary code execution when maliciously crafted media files are processed by vulnerable software implementations. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of both FFmpeg and Libav, with the issue persisting across FFmpeg versions prior to 0.11 and Libav versions 0.7.x before 0.7.7 and 0.8.x before 0.8.4, indicating a significant attack surface spanning several years of software development. This vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues, specifically related to buffer overflows and improper input validation, which are classified under CWE-121 and CWE-125 in the Common Weakness Enumeration system. The attack vectors for this vulnerability typically involve social engineering techniques where users are tricked into opening maliciously crafted AVI files, or through automated exploitation in web-based media processing environments where user uploads are not properly sanitized. The impact of this vulnerability can be severe as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or privilege escalation. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes the use of malicious files to gain code execution, and T1068, which covers the exploitation of vulnerabilities in software applications. The root cause stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of vector coded coefficients, where the number of vector coefficients (num_vec_coeffs) parameter is not properly validated against expected ranges, allowing attackers to manipulate file structures to trigger memory corruption. When processing AVI files with malformed vector coefficient data, the affected libraries fail to validate the size or count of these coefficients, leading to potential buffer overflows that can be exploited to overwrite critical memory regions. The operational impact extends beyond individual software applications to affect entire ecosystems including web browsers, media players, content management systems, and mobile applications that rely on these libraries for multimedia processing. Organizations using affected versions of FFmpeg or Libav in their software stacks face significant risk exposure, particularly those handling user-generated content or processing untrusted media files. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical knowledge from attackers, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users can upload or download media files from untrusted sources. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenges in multimedia library security, where complex parsing logic for various file formats can introduce subtle but critical flaws that may remain undetected for extended periods. The vulnerability's presence in widely deployed libraries means that numerous applications and platforms may be affected, requiring coordinated patching efforts across multiple software vendors and distribution channels. Mitigation strategies include immediate upgrade to patched versions of FFmpeg or Libav, implementing strict input validation for media file processing, and deploying sandboxing techniques to isolate multimedia processing functions from core system operations. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts and maintain comprehensive incident response procedures for potential exploitation events. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough security testing for multimedia processing libraries and the need for continuous monitoring of security advisories from software vendors and security research communities.