CVE-2014-2263 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The mpegts_write_pmt function in the MPEG2 transport stream (aka DVB) muxer (libavformat/mpegtsenc.c) in FFmpeg, possibly 2.1 and earlier, allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact and vectors, which trigger an out-of-bounds write.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-2263 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's MPEG2 transport stream muxer implementation, specifically in the mpegts_write_pmt function located at libavformat/mpegtsenc.c. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects versions of FFmpeg up to and including version 2.1, potentially impacting a wide range of applications that rely on FFmpeg for video processing and streaming operations. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that can be triggered remotely, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments where FFmpeg is used to process untrusted input streams. The unspecified impact and vectors associated with this vulnerability indicate that attackers can exploit this flaw through various means, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and buffer management within the MPEG2 transport stream packetization process. When FFmpeg processes multimedia content for DVB (Digital Video Broadcasting) transport stream format, the mpegts_write_pmt function handles program map table generation, which contains crucial metadata about the elementary streams within a transport stream. The flaw occurs when the function fails to properly validate the size or content of program map table entries, leading to memory corruption through unauthorized write operations beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which is categorized as a memory safety issue that can result in unpredictable behavior including crashes, data corruption, or potential code execution. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that an attacker can craft malicious input streams that, when processed by FFmpeg, trigger the out-of-bounds write condition without requiring local system access.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-2263 extends far beyond simple application crashes, as it can enable sophisticated attack vectors that align with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework. The vulnerability can be leveraged in scenarios involving media processing servers, content delivery networks, or any system that accepts and processes multimedia files through FFmpeg. Attackers could potentially construct malicious video or audio streams that, when processed by vulnerable FFmpeg implementations, cause memory corruption and system instability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where FFmpeg is used for automated processing of user-uploaded content, as it could enable remote code execution or denial of service attacks that compromise entire media processing pipelines. The unspecified nature of the impact vectors suggests that the vulnerability could be exploited through multiple attack surfaces including web applications, media servers, or streaming platforms that depend on FFmpeg for their operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-2263 require immediate action to upgrade to patched versions of FFmpeg, specifically versions 2.2 and later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input validation and buffer boundary checks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems using FFmpeg are updated promptly, as the vulnerability affects widely deployed multimedia processing infrastructure. Additionally, input validation measures should be enhanced at application layers that utilize FFmpeg, including implementing strict content filtering and sanitization before processing any external multimedia streams. Network-based mitigations such as implementing strict media format validation at ingress points and employing sandboxing techniques for multimedia processing can provide additional defense-in-depth. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual processing patterns or memory corruption indicators that might suggest exploitation attempts, and regular security assessments should verify that no vulnerable FFmpeg versions remain in operational environments. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue underscores the importance of employing modern compiler security features and runtime protections that can detect or prevent out-of-bounds memory operations.