CVE-2014-9630 in VLC Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
The rtp_packetize_xiph_config function in modules/stream_out/rtpfmt.c in VideoLAN VLC media player before 2.1.6 uses a stack-allocation approach with a size determined by arbitrary input data, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted length value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9630 represents a critical memory safety issue within the VideoLAN VLC media player software ecosystem. This flaw exists in the rtp_packetize_xiph_config function located in the modules/stream_out/rtpfmt.c source file, which is responsible for handling Real-time Transport Protocol packetization of Xiph-based media streams. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the application processes crafted input data that determines the size of stack-allocated memory blocks, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled data directly influences memory allocation parameters.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the function's improper handling of user-supplied length values during the configuration packetization process for Xiph-formatted media streams. When VLC processes media content that includes specially crafted RTP packets with manipulated length fields, the application allocates stack memory based on these arbitrary values without proper validation or bounds checking. This approach directly violates fundamental security principles of memory management and input validation, creating a potential exploitation vector that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution. Attackers can exploit this flaw by sending specially crafted RTP packets containing malformed length values that cause the application to allocate insufficient or excessive stack memory, leading to memory corruption that may result in application crashes, heap corruption, or in some cases, code execution. The vulnerability affects all versions of VLC prior to 2.1.6, making it particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of the media player software across multiple platforms and devices.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length parameters, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1203, involving exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The issue represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow scenario where attacker-controlled input directly influences stack memory allocation, potentially leading to privilege escalation or system compromise. Organizations utilizing VLC for media streaming or playback should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority remediation target, particularly in environments where untrusted media content may be processed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-9630 primarily focus on immediate software updates to version 2.1.6 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for the affected function. Additional defensive measures include implementing network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious media streams, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious RTP traffic patterns, and establishing robust patch management procedures to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Security teams should also consider implementing network access controls to restrict RTP traffic from untrusted sources and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar memory safety issues within the broader media processing ecosystem.