CVE-2014-9602 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
libavcodec/xface.h in FFmpeg before 2.5.2 establishes certain digits and words array dimensions that do not satisfy a required mathematical relationship, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds array access) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted X-Face image data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9602 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's libavcodec component, specifically in the xface.h header file responsible for handling X-Face image format processing. This flaw represents a classic buffer over-read condition that occurs when the software fails to properly validate array dimension parameters during the parsing of X-Face image data. The mathematical relationship required for proper array sizing is violated, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can trigger memory access violations. X-Face is a standardized format for representing facial images in email headers, commonly used in news and email clients, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for email processing applications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of array bounds within the X-Face decoding routine. When FFmpeg encounters crafted X-Face image data, the software calculates array dimensions based on malformed input parameters that do not satisfy the expected mathematical constraints. This allows attackers to manipulate the memory access patterns through carefully constructed image data, potentially leading to out-of-bounds memory reads that can trigger segmentation faults or more subtle memory corruption issues. The vulnerability operates at the boundary between legitimate data processing and malicious input manipulation, where the software's assumption about data structure validity is violated.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems processing email content or multimedia files containing X-Face data. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause denial of service conditions by triggering application crashes, effectively preventing legitimate users from accessing services that rely on FFmpeg for media processing. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that under certain conditions, this vulnerability could be exploited for more serious consequences including arbitrary code execution or information disclosure, though the primary impact remains service disruption. Systems running vulnerable versions of FFmpeg in email servers, media processing pipelines, or content delivery networks are particularly at risk.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9602 primarily involve upgrading to FFmpeg version 2.5.2 or later, which includes proper validation of array dimensions and mathematical relationships within the X-Face processing code. Organizations should also implement input validation measures at network boundaries to filter suspicious X-Face data before it reaches processing systems. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement proper error handling to prevent cascading failures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices, and may be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through multimedia processing components. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments are essential to prevent exploitation of similar buffer-related vulnerabilities in multimedia frameworks.