CVE-2012-2798 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the decode_dds1 function in libavcodec/dfa.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 an "out of array write."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2798 represents a critical memory safety issue within multimedia processing libraries that affects widely used open source software components. This flaw exists in the decode_dds1 function located within the libavcodec/dfa.c file of FFmpeg and its derivative Libav library. The vulnerability manifests as an "out of array write" condition that occurs during the decoding process of specific digital video formats, particularly those utilizing the dds1 codec variant. The issue affects multiple versions of both FFmpeg and Libav, with the vulnerability being present in FFmpeg versions prior to 0.11 and Libav versions prior to 0.7.7 in the 0.7.x series and 0.8.4 in the 0.8.x series. This widespread impact across different software versions indicates the fundamental nature of the memory corruption flaw.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it within the category of buffer overflow conditions, specifically manifesting as an out-of-bounds memory write operation. When processing specially crafted dds1 encoded video data, the decode_dds1 function fails to properly validate array bounds before writing data to memory locations. This improper validation allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read operations. The memory corruption occurs during the decompression phase of video processing, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through normal media playback operations without requiring special privileges or complex attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple denial of service conditions. An attacker capable of crafting malicious dds1 video files could potentially achieve arbitrary code execution on systems running vulnerable versions of FFmpeg or Libav. This risk materializes because memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical program structures, function pointers, or return addresses within the execution stack. The attack surface is broad as these libraries are integrated into numerous multimedia applications, web browsers, media players, and content management systems. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, especially when the affected libraries are used in server applications or web-based media processing environments. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for execution, as it provides a pathway for remote code execution through media file processing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2798 require immediate software updates to patched versions of FFmpeg and Libav libraries. System administrators should prioritize upgrading to FFmpeg 0.11 or later and Libav 0.7.7/0.8.4 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Additionally, implementing input validation measures can provide defense-in-depth protection, particularly when processing untrusted media files. Organizations should consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious media file patterns. The vulnerability's nature suggests that sandboxing media processing applications could reduce potential impact, though complete protection requires proper software patching. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory access patterns or unexpected behavior in multimedia processing applications. Regular vulnerability scanning and patch management procedures should be implemented to ensure all systems utilizing these libraries remain protected against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.