CVE-2016-10192 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in ffserver.c in FFmpeg before 2.8.10, 3.0.x before 3.0.5, 3.1.x before 3.1.6, and 3.2.x before 3.2.2 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code by leveraging failure to check chunk size.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/12/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10192 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the ffserver component of FFmpeg software ecosystem. This flaw exists in multiple versions of the multimedia framework including FFmpeg 2.8.10 and earlier, 3.0.x versions prior to 3.0.5, 3.1.x versions before 3.1.6, and 3.2.x versions before 3.2.2. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of chunk size parameters during media stream processing, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The affected ffserver.c file demonstrates a classic memory corruption vulnerability where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent heap memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when FFmpeg processes media streams through its ffserver component, specifically when handling chunked data transmission. The buffer overflow manifests due to improper bounds checking on chunk size parameters that are received from remote sources. When an attacker sends specially crafted media data with oversized chunk sizes, the application fails to validate these parameters before attempting to allocate heap memory. This validation failure allows the attacker to overflow heap buffers and potentially overwrite critical memory structures, function pointers, or return addresses, which can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the FFmpeg process.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to systems that utilize FFmpeg for media streaming or server functionality. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems without requiring local access, making this particularly dangerous for web applications, content delivery networks, and media servers that rely on FFmpeg for processing. The vulnerability affects not just standalone installations but also integrated systems such as web servers, streaming platforms, and media processing pipelines. The impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to potential lateral movement within networks, as compromised servers can serve as launching points for further attacks. Organizations using affected FFmpeg versions are vulnerable to attacks that could result in complete system takeover, data exfiltration, or service disruption.
Security mitigations for CVE-2016-10192 primarily focus on immediate software updates to patched versions of FFmpeg. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to FFmpeg versions 2.8.10, 3.0.5, 3.1.6, or 3.2.2 respectively, depending on their current version. Additionally, implementing network-level controls such as firewall rules to restrict access to ffserver components, deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts, and applying input validation controls at network boundaries can provide additional defense layers. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and maps to ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting controls and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing libraries, which are frequently targeted due to their widespread use and complex processing logic.