CVE-2013-0899 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 01/25/2023
Integer overflow in the padding implementation in the opus_packet_parse_impl function in src/opus_decoder.c in Opus before 1.0.2, as used in Google Chrome before 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X and other products, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a long packet.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0899 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Opus audio codec implementation that affects multiple platforms including Google Chrome versions prior to 25.0.1364.97 on Windows and Linux, and before 25.0.1364.99 on Mac OS X. This vulnerability resides in the opus_packet_parse_impl function located in the src/opus_decoder.c file, which is part of the Opus codec library version 1.0.1 and earlier. The flaw occurs specifically during the padding implementation phase of packet parsing, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through out-of-bounds memory reads.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values during packet validation processes. When the opus_packet_parse_impl function processes incoming audio packets, it fails to properly validate the padding length values, leading to situations where integer overflow occurs. This overflow results in the calculation of invalid memory addresses that exceed the bounds of allocated buffers, causing the decoder to attempt reading memory locations that are either uninitialized, inaccessible, or not properly allocated. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow condition where an integer value is incremented beyond its maximum representable value, leading to unexpected behavior in the subsequent memory access operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a significant security risk that can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt services or potentially execute arbitrary code. Remote attackers can craft specially malformed audio packets that trigger the integer overflow condition when processed by vulnerable implementations. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond receiving and processing the malicious audio content, making it suitable for automated exploitation in web browsers and other applications that utilize the Opus codec for audio streaming. The vulnerability affects not only Google Chrome but also other products that incorporate the affected Opus library, creating a widespread potential impact across multiple software ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0899 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to Opus 1.0.2 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the integer overflow issue. System administrators and security teams should prioritize updating all affected applications, particularly web browsers and multimedia applications that utilize the Opus codec. Additional protective measures include implementing network-level filtering to block suspicious audio content and deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify malformed audio packets. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities for denial of service purposes, and represents a classic example of how buffer overflows can be leveraged for service disruption. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and memory protection features to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities, particularly in environments where multimedia content processing is common.