CVE-2014-2097 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The tak_decode_frame function in libavcodec/takdec.c in FFmpeg before 2.1.4 does not properly validate a certain bits-per-sample value, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted TAK (aka Tom s lossless Audio Kompressor) data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2097 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework, specifically in the tak_decode_frame function located in libavcodec/takdec.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects FFmpeg versions prior to 2.1.4, where the software fails to properly validate a bits-per-sample parameter during TAK audio file processing. The TAK format, also known as Tom s lossless Audio Kompressor, is a lossless audio compression format that requires precise parameter validation to ensure proper decoding operations. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization that allows maliciously crafted TAK files to bypass normal parameter checking mechanisms, creating a dangerous condition where the decoder attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated array boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests through improper bounds checking within the audio decoding pipeline. When FFmpeg processes TAK files, it expects specific bit depth values that define how audio samples are represented in memory. However, the tak_decode_frame function does not adequately validate whether the bits-per-sample value falls within acceptable ranges, allowing attackers to specify values that exceed the allocated memory buffer limits. This validation failure creates a classic out-of-bounds array access condition that can result in memory corruption, program crashes, or potentially more severe consequences depending on how the corrupted memory is subsequently accessed. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of improper input validation and memory safety issues, aligning with CWE-129: Improper Validation of Array Index and CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. Remote attackers who can influence the processing of TAK audio files can trigger system instability through crafted malicious files, leading to service disruption across applications that rely on FFmpeg for multimedia processing. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that under certain conditions, this flaw might be exploitable for more advanced attacks, potentially including arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory corruption patterns and the target system architecture. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where FFmpeg is used to process untrusted multimedia content, such as web applications, media servers, or content management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2097 primarily focus on immediate software updates and proper input validation measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to FFmpeg version 2.1.4 or later, where the validation logic has been corrected to properly check bits-per-sample values against acceptable ranges. Organizations should also implement comprehensive input filtering for TAK files, particularly in environments where untrusted content is processed, by employing additional validation layers beyond the core library functionality. Security teams should monitor for any potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis or file processing logs, as the vulnerability may be leveraged in automated attack scenarios targeting multimedia processing systems. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia frameworks and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203: Exploitation for Client Execution when considering how it might be used in broader attack chains targeting media processing applications.