CVE-2013-2495 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The iff_read_header function in iff.c in libavformat in FFmpeg through 1.1.3 does not properly handle data sizes for Interchange File Format (IFF) data during operations involving a CMAP chunk or a video codec, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (integer overflow, out-of-bounds array access, and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted header.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2495 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's libavformat library, specifically in the iff_read_header function located in the iff.c file. This flaw affects FFmpeg versions through 1.1.3 and represents a critical security issue that stems from improper handling of data sizes within Interchange File Format (IFF) files. IFF is a container format originally developed by Electronic Arts for use on Amiga systems, and FFmpeg's implementation attempts to parse these legacy formats for broad compatibility. The vulnerability manifests when the software processes CMAP chunks or video codecs within IFF files, creating a dangerous condition where maliciously crafted headers can trigger unexpected behavior in the parsing routine.
The technical flaw constitutes an integer overflow condition combined with out-of-bounds array access that occurs during the parsing of IFF file headers. When the iff_read_header function encounters malformed data within the CMAP chunk or video codec sections, it fails to properly validate the size parameters before attempting to allocate memory or access arrays. This improper validation leads to scenarios where integer arithmetic produces values that exceed the maximum representable range for the data type being used, resulting in unexpected behavior. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as the out-of-bounds memory access can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or other unspecified consequences depending on the execution environment. This type of vulnerability is categorized under CWE-190 as an integer overflow and CWE-787 as an out-of-bounds write, representing fundamental flaws in input validation and memory management practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-2495 is significant across multiple attack vectors and deployment scenarios. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious IFF files that, when processed by any application utilizing the vulnerable FFmpeg library, will trigger the integer overflow and subsequent memory access violations. This creates a denial of service condition that can crash applications or cause system instability, while the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests the possibility of more severe consequences such as privilege escalation or code execution. The vulnerability affects any system or application that relies on FFmpeg for multimedia processing, including web servers, media processing applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. The attack surface is particularly broad since IFF files are commonly encountered in various contexts, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for systems that process untrusted multimedia content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-2495 should focus on immediate patching of affected FFmpeg installations to versions 1.1.4 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and size parameter checking. Organizations should implement comprehensive input sanitization measures for all multimedia file processing, including validation of file headers before parsing and limiting the size of expected data structures. Network-based defenses can include implementing content filtering systems that scan for potentially malicious multimedia files, while application-level protections should enforce strict memory bounds checking and implement robust error handling for malformed input. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Execution) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) highlights the need for layered security approaches that combine software patching with network monitoring and intrusion detection systems to prevent exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all systems utilizing FFmpeg or related multimedia libraries remain protected against similar integer overflow vulnerabilities.