CVE-2013-7015 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The flashsv_decode_frame function in libavcodec/flashsv.c in FFmpeg before 2.1 does not properly validate a certain height value, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted Flash Screen Video data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7015 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's flashsv_decode_frame function located in libavcodec/flashsv.c. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when processing Flash Screen Video format data. The vulnerability specifically stems from inadequate validation of height parameters during video frame decoding operations, creating a path for malicious actors to manipulate the decoding process through crafted input data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves attackers sending specially crafted Flash Screen Video files that contain malformed height values. When FFmpeg processes these inputs through the flashsv_decode_frame function, the insufficient validation allows an out-of-bounds array access condition to occur. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, as the software fails to properly validate input parameters before using them in array indexing operations. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate memory access patterns that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially leading to system instability or arbitrary code execution depending on the execution environment and memory layout.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process untrusted video content, particularly those running FFmpeg versions prior to 2.1. The denial of service aspect means that legitimate users could experience service disruption when encountering maliciously crafted video files, while the unspecified other impacts suggest potential for more severe consequences including privilege escalation or remote code execution in certain configurations. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications that rely on FFmpeg for video processing, including content management systems, media servers, and streaming platforms that handle user-uploaded video content.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2013-7015 centers on upgrading to FFmpeg version 2.1 or later, where the validation logic has been corrected to properly validate height parameters before array access operations. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems processing video content are updated promptly. Additionally, input validation should be enhanced at application layers that utilize FFmpeg, implementing additional checks for video file parameters before handing them to the decoding library. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block suspicious Flash Screen Video file patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in multimedia processing libraries and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting how multimedia vulnerabilities can be leveraged for system compromise. Organizations should also conduct regular security assessments of their multimedia processing pipelines to identify similar validation gaps that could lead to analogous vulnerabilities in other codecs or processing functions.