CVE-2013-0874 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) doubles2str and (2) shorts2str functions in libavcodec/tiff.c in FFmpeg before 1.1.3 allow remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via a crafted TIFF image, related to an out-of-bounds array access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0874 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework, specifically affecting the libavcodec/tiff.c component that handles TIFF image decoding. This issue manifests in two distinct functions named doubles2str and shorts2str, which are responsible for processing specific data types within TIFF image files. The flaw represents a critical out-of-bounds array access vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers through carefully crafted TIFF image files. The vulnerability affects FFmpeg versions prior to 1.1.3, making it a significant concern for systems that process untrusted image content without proper input validation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the TIFF decoding routines. When the doubles2str and shorts2str functions process malformed TIFF data, they fail to properly validate array indices against the actual size of allocated memory buffers. This allows an attacker to craft TIFF images containing maliciously sized data arrays that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, resulting in memory corruption. The out-of-bounds access can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, or denial of service conditions depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array index bounds, and represents a classic buffer overflow scenario that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-0874 extends across numerous applications and systems that rely on FFmpeg for multimedia processing, including web servers, content management systems, digital asset management platforms, and media processing pipelines. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by uploading or transmitting specially crafted TIFF images to systems running vulnerable FFmpeg versions, potentially gaining unauthorized access to system resources or disrupting service availability. The remote nature of the attack means that systems processing TIFF images from untrusted sources are at risk, including web applications that accept user-uploaded images, media servers, and automated processing systems. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where automatic image processing occurs without proper sanitization, as the malicious TIFF content can be processed during routine operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate version updates to FFmpeg 1.1.3 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the out-of-bounds array access issues. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing FFmpeg are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation for TIFF files, deploying content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious image files, and establishing secure coding practices that emphasize bounds checking in array operations. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices, particularly regarding input validation and memory management. Security monitoring should include detection of suspicious TIFF file processing activities, and network segmentation can help limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. System administrators should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can identify systems running vulnerable FFmpeg versions and track remediation progress.