CVE-2013-7018 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
libavcodec/jpeg2000dec.c in FFmpeg before 2.1 does not ensure the use of valid code-block dimension values, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JPEG2000 data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-7018 resides within the libavcodec/jpeg2000dec.c component of FFmpeg versions prior to 2.1, representing a critical security flaw that affects multimedia processing applications relying on this library. This issue manifests as a failure to validate code-block dimension values during JPEG2000 decompression operations, creating a scenario where maliciously crafted JPEG2000 data can trigger unpredictable behavior in affected systems. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multimedia codec processing and memory safety, where improper input validation leads to potential exploitation opportunities that extend beyond simple denial of service.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within the JPEG2000 decoder's handling of code-block dimensions, which are fundamental parameters defining the spatial organization of image data in JPEG2000 format. When the decoder processes malformed JPEG2000 streams, it fails to properly validate the dimensions specified for code-blocks, allowing attackers to specify values that exceed the bounds of allocated memory arrays. This oversight creates a condition where array indexing operations reference memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries, resulting in out-of-bounds memory access patterns that can manifest as application crashes or more severe system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that process multimedia content, particularly those handling untrusted input from external sources. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment, as out-of-bounds memory access can provide attackers with opportunities for information disclosure or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including media players, content management systems, and server applications that utilize FFmpeg for video processing, making it a critical concern for organizations managing multimedia workflows. This flaw aligns with CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length fields, and represents a classic example of buffer over-read conditions that can be exploited through malformed input data.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft specially formatted JPEG2000 data that contains invalid code-block dimension specifications, which when processed by the vulnerable FFmpeg library triggers the out-of-bounds memory access. The attack vector is remote and requires no authentication, making it particularly dangerous in web-based environments where users may unknowingly encounter malicious media files. Mitigation strategies focus primarily on updating to FFmpeg version 2.1 or later, where the code-block dimension validation has been properly implemented. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at network boundaries and consider sandboxing media processing operations to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. Additionally, monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation contexts.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of comprehensive input validation in multimedia processing libraries, where the complexity of codecs can obscure potential security flaws. This issue demonstrates how seemingly minor validation gaps in specialized software components can create significant security risks across entire ecosystems of applications that depend on these libraries for core functionality. The vulnerability underscores the need for robust security testing of multimedia codecs and emphasizes the critical role of proper bounds checking in memory-intensive operations. Organizations should prioritize regular security updates and maintain comprehensive vulnerability management programs to address similar issues that may arise in other multimedia processing components within their technology stack.