CVE-2015-3395 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
The msrle_decode_pal4 function in msrledec.c in Libav before 10.7 and 11.x before 11.4 and FFmpeg before 2.0.7, 2.2.x before 2.2.15, 2.4.x before 2.4.8, 2.5.x before 2.5.6, and 2.6.x before 2.6.2 allows remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted image, related to a pixel pointer, which triggers an out-of-bounds array access.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-3395 represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw within the msrle_decode_pal4 function of Libav and FFmpeg multimedia processing libraries. This issue affects multiple versions of both libraries, with specific vulnerable ranges including Libav versions before 10.7 and 11.x before 11.4, and FFmpeg versions before 2.0.7, 2.2.x before 2.2.15, 2.4.x before 2.4.8, 2.5.x before 2.5.6, and 2.6.x before 2.6.2. The flaw stems from improper handling of pixel pointers during the decoding of MSRLE (Microsoft Run Length Encoded) format images, which is a common video codec used in various multimedia applications. The vulnerability manifests when a remote attacker crafts a malicious image file that triggers an out-of-bounds array access condition during the decoding process, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system compromise.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability can be categorized under CWE-125 as "Out-of-bounds Read" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 "Exploitation for Client Execution" where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The msrle_decode_pal4 function fails to properly validate or bounds-check pixel pointer calculations when processing RLE-encoded image data, allowing attackers to manipulate the decoding logic through crafted input files. When the decoder encounters malformed pixel data, it performs array indexing operations that exceed the allocated memory boundaries, creating opportunities for memory corruption and potential code execution. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in multimedia processing libraries because these components are frequently used in web browsers, media players, and content management systems, making them attractive targets for remote exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-3395 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it can enable attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on systems processing affected multimedia content. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering maliciously crafted image files through various vectors including web downloads, email attachments, or file sharing platforms, particularly targeting systems running vulnerable versions of Libav or FFmpeg. The out-of-bounds memory access can result in denial of service conditions, data corruption, or more severe consequences such as privilege escalation and complete system compromise. Given that these libraries are widely integrated into numerous applications and services, the potential attack surface is extensive, affecting everything from media streaming platforms to content management systems and web browsers that rely on these underlying multimedia libraries for video and image processing capabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-3395 should focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of both Libav and FFmpeg, with administrators prioritizing the installation of security patches released by respective software maintainers. Organizations should implement network segmentation and content filtering to prevent unauthorized access to potentially malicious multimedia files, particularly in environments where users can upload or download content. Additionally, deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious multimedia file patterns and implementing strict input validation for all multimedia processing functions will help reduce the risk of exploitation. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for multimedia processing components and regularly monitoring system logs for unusual memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date multimedia libraries and implementing robust input validation controls in applications that process external multimedia content, as these components often serve as primary attack vectors for sophisticated exploitation campaigns targeting multimedia processing vulnerabilities.