CVE-2013-6934 in Streaming Media
Summary
by MITRE
The parseRTSPRequestString function in Live Networks Live555 Streaming Media 2013.11.26, as used in VideoLAN VLC Media Player, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a space character at the beginning of an RTSP message, which triggers an integer underflow, infinite loop, and buffer overflow. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-6933.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-6934 represents a critical security flaw in the Live555 streaming media library version 2013.11.26, which is extensively utilized by VideoLAN VLC Media Player and numerous other applications. This issue stems from improper input validation within the parseRTSPRequestString function, which processes RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) messages used for controlling multimedia streaming sessions. The vulnerability specifically manifests when an RTSP message begins with a space character, creating a dangerous chain of memory corruption issues that can lead to system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves a sophisticated sequence of memory corruption events triggered by the initial space character in an RTSP message. The space character causes an integer underflow within the parsing logic, which subsequently leads to an infinite loop in the message processing routine. This infinite loop creates conditions for a buffer overflow to occur, as the system attempts to write data beyond allocated memory boundaries. The integer underflow specifically affects the calculation of message length or buffer sizes, causing the system to allocate insufficient memory for processing the malformed RTSP request. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it represents an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-6933, indicating that the developers failed to address all potential attack vectors in their previous remediation efforts, leaving residual weaknesses in the codebase.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-6934 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable remote code execution on affected systems. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause the targeted application to crash and terminate unexpectedly, resulting in service disruption for legitimate users. However, the more severe implications arise when attackers leverage the buffer overflow conditions to inject malicious code into the application's memory space, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution. This capability transforms the vulnerability from a mere disruption tool into a serious exploit that could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to systems running vulnerable versions of VLC or other affected applications. The vulnerability affects a wide range of systems since Live555 is embedded in numerous media applications and streaming servers, making the potential attack surface extensive.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-129, which describes improper validation of length of data structures, and CWE-190, which addresses integer overflow or wraparound conditions. The attack patterns associated with this vulnerability align with ATT&CK techniques including T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1499 (Endpoint Termination) where attackers leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities to execute malicious code or terminate services. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected systems, as the vulnerability is particularly dangerous due to its potential for remote code execution. The recommended mitigations include updating to Live555 version 2013.12.04 or later, which contains comprehensive fixes for both CVE-2013-6933 and CVE-2013-6934. Additionally, network administrators should implement monitoring for suspicious RTSP traffic patterns and consider network segmentation to limit potential attack vectors. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of thorough vulnerability assessment and the dangers of incomplete security fixes that may leave systems exposed to further exploitation.