CVE-2015-1208 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Integer underflow in the mov_read_default function in libavformat/mov.c in FFmpeg before 2.4.6 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from heap and/or stack memory via a crafted MP4 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-1208 represents a critical integer underflow condition within the FFmpeg media processing library, specifically in the mov_read_default function located in libavformat/mov.c. This flaw exists in FFmpeg versions prior to 2.4.6 and enables remote attackers to exploit crafted MP4 files to extract sensitive data from heap and stack memory regions. The issue stems from improper input validation and arithmetic handling within the media file parsing routine that processes MOV format containers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the mov_read_default function processes certain MP4 file structures containing malformed data. An integer underflow condition arises when the function performs arithmetic operations on size parameters that are manipulated by an attacker through carefully crafted file content. This manipulation causes the integer value to wrap around to a much smaller value than expected, leading to improper memory allocation calculations. The resulting behavior allows attackers to control memory access patterns and potentially read beyond allocated buffer boundaries, thereby exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems processing multimedia content, particularly those handling untrusted MP4 files from external sources. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract cryptographic keys, authentication tokens, session data, or other sensitive information that may be stored in memory adjacent to the vulnerable code paths. The remote exploitation capability means that systems processing media files through FFmpeg libraries are at risk regardless of network isolation, as the vulnerability can be triggered through simple file delivery mechanisms. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in web applications, content delivery networks, and media processing services that handle user-uploaded files.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-191, which specifically addresses integer underflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through media processing applications. Organizations using FFmpeg libraries should prioritize immediate patching to version 2.4.6 or later, as this update contains the necessary fixes to prevent the integer underflow condition. Additional mitigations include implementing strict input validation for media files, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for media processing, and configuring network filters to prevent unauthorized file uploads. System administrators should also consider monitoring for unusual memory access patterns and implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes to address similar issues in other multimedia libraries and codecs that may exhibit similar integer arithmetic vulnerabilities.