CVE-2013-7010 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer signedness errors in libavcodec/dsputil.c in FFmpeg before 2.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7010 represents a critical class of software flaw within the FFmpeg multimedia framework, specifically affecting the libavcodec/dsputil.c component. This issue stems from multiple integer signedness errors that occur during the processing of multimedia data streams, particularly impacting the decoding capabilities of the library. The flaw exists in FFmpeg versions prior to 2.1, making it a significant concern for systems that rely on this widely-used open-source multimedia processing library for video and audio handling operations.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of integer values during array indexing operations within the dsputil.c file. When processing crafted malicious input data, the software fails to properly validate the signedness of integer variables used for array bounds checking, leading to situations where negative values can be interpreted as array indices. This creates conditions where the application attempts to access memory locations outside the bounds of allocated arrays, resulting in unpredictable behavior that can manifest as denial of service conditions or potentially more severe impacts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-191, which specifically addresses integer underflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-7010 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest potential for more serious consequences. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious multimedia files or streams that, when processed by vulnerable FFmpeg implementations, trigger the out-of-bounds array access conditions. This vulnerability affects systems that utilize FFmpeg for video processing, streaming services, media servers, and any application that handles multimedia content through this library. The remote nature of the attack means that systems can be compromised simply by processing malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in web-based applications and media processing services. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to complete service disruption, application crashes, or in some cases, potential code execution depending on the specific implementation and system configuration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-7010 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches to FFmpeg versions 2.1 and later, which contain the necessary fixes for the integer signedness errors. Organizations should prioritize updating their FFmpeg installations and ensuring all dependent applications are also updated to prevent exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict input validation for multimedia content, deploying network monitoring to detect suspicious file processing patterns, and utilizing sandboxing techniques to isolate multimedia processing operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of rigorous input validation and proper integer handling in multimedia processing libraries, serving as a reminder of the critical security considerations required when developing and maintaining widely-used open-source software components. Security teams should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment of security updates across all systems utilizing vulnerable FFmpeg versions, while monitoring for any potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and system log monitoring.