CVE-2014-2098 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
libavcodec/wmalosslessdec.c in FFmpeg before 2.1.4 uses an incorrect data-structure size for certain coefficients, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted WMA data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2098 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's handling of WMA (Windows Media Audio) lossless audio files. This flaw specifically affects the wmalosslessdec.c component which processes WMA lossless audio data streams. The issue manifests when FFmpeg encounters crafted WMA files that contain malformed coefficient data structures, leading to improper memory handling during the decoding process. The vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read condition where the software attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated boundaries for coefficient data structures. This type of flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and system instability. The flaw impacts the broader multimedia processing ecosystem as FFmpeg serves as a foundational library for numerous media players, streaming platforms, and content processing applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the incorrect data-structure sizing calculation within the WMA lossless decoder. When processing maliciously crafted WMA files, the decoder misinterprets the size of coefficient data structures, causing it to read beyond the intended memory boundaries. This misinterpretation occurs during the parsing of WMA audio packets where the software assumes a certain data structure size while the actual data structure is either larger or smaller than expected. The memory corruption resulting from this issue can manifest in various ways including application crashes, memory leaks, or in more severe cases, potential code execution if the corrupted memory regions can be leveraged for exploitation. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as it can potentially allow attackers to manipulate memory contents in ways that might enable further exploitation techniques. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes the use of memory corruption vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution within target systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2098 presents significant risks for organizations relying on FFmpeg-based applications for media processing or streaming services. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability by simply providing malicious WMA files to any application that utilizes FFmpeg for audio processing, including web browsers, media players, content management systems, and streaming servers. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it requires no user interaction beyond the simple act of opening or processing the malicious file, making it an ideal candidate for automated exploitation campaigns. Organizations using FFmpeg in their infrastructure face potential service disruptions, data integrity issues, and increased attack surface when vulnerable versions are in use. The vulnerability also affects downstream applications that depend on FFmpeg's audio decoding capabilities, meaning that the impact extends far beyond the direct users of the multimedia framework itself. System administrators must consider the widespread deployment of FFmpeg across various platforms and applications when assessing the potential scope of impact from this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2098 focus primarily on updating to patched versions of FFmpeg where the issue has been resolved through proper data-structure size validation and memory boundary checking. Version 2.1.4 and later releases contain the necessary fixes that correct the coefficient data structure size calculations and implement proper bounds checking during WMA lossless audio processing. Organizations should also implement network-level filtering to block WMA files from untrusted sources, particularly when these files might be processed by vulnerable applications. Additional defensive measures include deploying sandboxing techniques for media processing applications, implementing strict input validation for all audio file formats, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing automated patch management processes to ensure timely updates across all systems that utilize FFmpeg components, as this vulnerability affects a widely deployed multimedia library that forms the foundation for numerous applications in the digital media ecosystem.