CVE-2013-3674 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The cdg_decode_frame function in cdgraphics.c in libavcodec in FFmpeg before 1.2.1 does not validate the presence of non-header data in a buffer, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access and application crash) via crafted CD Graphics Video data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-3674 resides within the cdg_decode_frame function in the cdgraphics.c file of FFmpeg's libavcodec library. This flaw represents a classic buffer over-read condition that occurs when the decoder fails to properly validate the presence of non-header data within incoming CD Graphics video buffers. The issue affects FFmpeg versions prior to 1.2.1, making it a significant concern for systems that rely on this multimedia processing library for video decoding operations. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental failure in input validation mechanisms, where the decoder assumes all incoming data conforms to expected formats without proper boundary checks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the CD Graphics video decoding routine. When processing crafted malicious video data, the cdg_decode_frame function attempts to access array elements beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, leading to out-of-bounds memory access patterns. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of input buffers, and more broadly aligns with CWE-787, concerning out-of-bounds write operations. The lack of proper validation means that an attacker can construct specially formatted CD Graphics video data that contains unexpected data beyond the expected header structure, causing the decoder to read beyond its intended memory allocation.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a remote denial of service threat that can be exploited by attackers who can inject malicious CD Graphics video content into systems that process such media. The impact manifests as application crashes and system instability, effectively rendering the affected multimedia processing systems unavailable to legitimate users. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where FFmpeg is used as a backend processing component for video streaming services, content management systems, or media servers that handle untrusted video input from multiple sources. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can trigger the vulnerability without requiring local system access, making it a significant threat vector for service availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-3674 primarily focus on updating to FFmpeg version 1.2.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the buffer validation issues. System administrators should also implement input validation measures at network boundaries to filter out potentially malicious video content before it reaches the FFmpeg processing pipeline. Additional protective measures include deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious video data patterns and implementing sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing proper input sanitization routines that validate the integrity and expected structure of all incoming video data before passing it to the FFmpeg libraries. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust input validation practices and proper memory management in multimedia processing libraries, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.001 for network denial of service attacks.