CVE-2013-7023 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The ff_combine_frame function in libavcodec/parser.c in FFmpeg before 2.1 does not properly handle certain memory-allocation errors, which allows 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-2013-7023 represents a critical memory handling flaw within the FFmpeg multimedia framework that affects versions prior to 2.1. This issue resides in the ff_combine_frame function located in libavcodec/parser.c, which is responsible for processing and combining video frames during decoding operations. The flaw manifests when the function fails to properly manage memory allocation errors that occur during the parsing of multimedia streams, creating a dangerous condition where malformed input data can trigger unexpected behavior in the underlying code structure.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper error handling during memory allocation operations within the frame combination process. When FFmpeg encounters crafted malicious data during video parsing, the ff_combine_frame function does not adequately validate or recover from allocation failures, leading to potential out-of-bounds array access conditions. This memory corruption vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically addressing insufficient bound checking in array operations. The flaw operates at the intersection of buffer overflow conditions and memory management errors, where the application fails to properly verify memory allocation success before proceeding with subsequent operations that assume valid memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that utilize FFmpeg for multimedia processing, particularly in server environments or applications that process untrusted media content. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted media files that trigger the problematic code path, resulting in denial of service conditions that can crash applications or render systems unavailable. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest potential for more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution or information disclosure. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system instability.
The exploitation of CVE-2013-7023 demonstrates the critical importance of proper error handling in multimedia processing libraries that handle untrusted input data. Systems utilizing FFmpeg for video processing, streaming services, content management platforms, and media conversion tools are particularly at risk when running vulnerable versions. The vulnerability's impact is amplified in environments where automated processing of user-uploaded content occurs, as attackers can easily craft malicious files that trigger the memory allocation failure condition. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement input validation measures to prevent exploitation, as the memory corruption characteristics of this vulnerability can potentially be leveraged for more advanced attack vectors beyond simple denial of service. The remediation strategy focuses on updating to FFmpeg version 2.1 or later, where the memory handling in ff_combine_frame has been properly addressed to prevent allocation error propagation into dangerous array access conditions.