CVE-2014-125014 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE • 06/18/2022
A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in FFmpeg 2.0. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the component HEVC Video Decoder. The manipulation leads to memory corruption. The attack can be launched remotely. It is recommended to apply a patch to fix this issue.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical memory corruption flaw within FFmpeg's HEVC video decoder component version 2.0, demonstrating the inherent risks associated with multimedia processing libraries that handle complex video codecs. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the HEVC decoding logic, where malformed or maliciously crafted video data can trigger buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions. Such issues are particularly dangerous in multimedia applications because they often process untrusted input from various sources without adequate sanitization mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote attack vectors, meaning that an attacker can deliver malicious HEVC video content to a system running the vulnerable FFmpeg version and trigger the memory corruption during normal video decoding operations. This remote execution capability significantly broadens the attack surface as it allows adversaries to compromise systems simply by having users play or process malicious video files. The vulnerability's classification as problematic aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions that occur when insufficient space is allocated for data, and potentially CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors that can lead to memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system crashes or application instability, as memory corruption can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution under certain conditions. Attackers who successfully exploit this weakness could gain control over affected systems, particularly when FFmpeg is integrated into web applications, media servers, or content delivery networks where users might unknowingly trigger the malicious decoding process. The vulnerability affects not only standalone applications but also web browsers and other software that rely on FFmpeg for video processing, creating a widespread potential impact across multiple attack surfaces.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all systems running FFmpeg 2.0 or earlier versions, as this represents a critical security risk that can be exploited without user interaction. The recommended mitigation strategy includes updating to the latest stable FFmpeg version where this vulnerability has been addressed through improved input validation and memory management practices. Additionally, implementing network-level restrictions on video file processing and deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious video content patterns can provide additional defensive layers. Security teams should also consider applying runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, aligning with mitigation techniques outlined in the MITRE ATT&CK framework for process injection and code execution techniques.
The vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia processing components often contain complex decoding logic that introduces significant security risks when not properly hardened against malformed input. This particular issue highlights the importance of thorough security testing for codec implementations and the need for robust memory safety practices throughout the development lifecycle. Organizations using FFmpeg in production environments must maintain updated security monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure comprehensive patch management across all affected systems, as the remote attack capability makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world deployment scenarios.