CVE-2014-5271 in FFMpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the encode_slice function in libavcodec/proresenc_kostya.c in FFMpeg before 1.1.14, 1.2.x before 1.2.8, 2.x before 2.2.7, and 2.3.x before 2.3.3 and Libav before 10.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2022
The CVE-2014-5271 vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting the FFmpeg multimedia framework and its fork Libav. This flaw exists within the encode_slice function located in libavcodec/proresenc_kostya.c, making it a significant security concern for systems processing video content. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of FFmpeg including 1.1.13 and earlier, 1.2.7 and earlier, 2.2.6 and earlier, and 2.3.2 and earlier, as well as Libav versions prior to 10.5. The buffer overflow occurs during the processing of ProRes video encoding operations, specifically when handling slice data in the encoding pipeline. This vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which is classified as a memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when remote attackers send maliciously crafted video files that trigger the vulnerable encode_slice function. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that the attacker can manipulate heap memory layout to cause memory corruption that results in program crashes or potentially arbitrary code execution. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description suggest that various input parameters within the ProRes encoding process can trigger this condition, making the attack surface broader than typical buffer overflow scenarios. The vulnerability operates at the codec level where the application processes video frames and slices, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might process untrusted video content.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-5271 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution, which represents a severe security risk for multimedia processing applications. Systems utilizing FFmpeg or Libav for video processing, transcoding, or streaming are vulnerable to this attack, including content management systems, media servers, and video editing applications. The vulnerability affects both the original FFmpeg project and its Libav fork, indicating a widespread impact across the multimedia processing ecosystem. Organizations deploying these libraries in production environments face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including web uploads, file processing pipelines, and media ingestion workflows.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected FFmpeg and Libav installations to versions containing the fix. System administrators should prioritize updating their multimedia processing infrastructure and verify that all components using these libraries are properly updated. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the attack surface, particularly in environments where untrusted video content is processed. Network segmentation and access controls should be employed to limit exposure, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia libraries and implementing proper security controls in media processing environments, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's software exploitation techniques. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for video processing operations to contain potential exploitation attempts and limit the impact of successful attacks.