CVE-2013-2276 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The avcodec_decode_audio4 function in utils.c in libavcodec in FFmpeg before 1.1.3 does not verify the decoding state before proceeding with certain skip operations, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted audio data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2276 represents a critical flaw in the FFmpeg multimedia framework's audio decoding component that has significant implications for software security and system stability. This issue affects the avcodec_decode_audio4 function within the libavcodec library, specifically in versions prior to 1.1.3, making it a widespread concern across numerous applications that rely on FFmpeg for multimedia processing. The vulnerability stems from inadequate state verification during audio decoding operations, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the decoding process through carefully crafted audio payloads.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in the function's failure to validate the decoding state before executing specific skip operations that are designed to handle certain audio data patterns. When the avcodec_decode_audio4 function processes malformed audio data, it proceeds with skip operations without first confirming that the decoding context remains valid and consistent. This oversight creates a condition where the function may attempt to access array elements beyond their allocated boundaries, resulting in memory corruption that manifests as out-of-bounds array access errors. The flaw operates at the intersection of buffer management and state validation, where proper input sanitization and context verification should occur before proceeding with data manipulation operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents multiple risk vectors that extend beyond simple denial of service conditions. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness to cause application crashes that effectively deny service to legitimate users, while the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that more severe consequences may be possible depending on the execution environment. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers need only provide malicious audio content to trigger the condition, making it particularly dangerous in web-based applications or media processing systems where users may encounter untrusted audio files. The out-of-bounds memory access can potentially lead to information disclosure, privilege escalation, or even arbitrary code execution depending on the system configuration and memory layout.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system instability. This flaw particularly affects systems that process multimedia content from untrusted sources, including web browsers, media players, content management systems, and streaming platforms. The impact is amplified in environments where FFmpeg is integrated as a core component, as the vulnerability can be leveraged across multiple applications and platforms that depend on this multimedia library for audio processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected FFmpeg installations to version 1.1.3 or later, where the decoding state verification has been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement input validation measures that filter or sanitize audio data before processing, particularly in environments where untrusted content may be encountered. Network-level protections such as content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures, while application developers should ensure proper error handling and memory management practices are implemented in their multimedia processing code. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential weaknesses in multimedia processing pipelines that may be similarly susceptible to state-based exploitation patterns.