CVE-2017-14054 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
In libavformat/rmdec.c in FFmpeg 3.3.3, a DoS in ivr_read_header() due to lack of an EOF (End of File) check might cause huge CPU consumption. When a crafted IVR file, which claims a large "len" field in the header but does not contain sufficient backing data, is provided, the first type==4 loop would consume huge CPU resources, since there is no EOF check inside the loop.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/27/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2017-14054 represents a critical denial of service flaw within FFmpeg's handling of IVR (Interactive Video Recording) media files. This issue specifically affects version 3.3.3 of the FFmpeg library and resides in the libavformat/rmdec.c component. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling mechanisms that fail to properly verify file boundaries during the parsing process. When processing a maliciously crafted IVR file, the system enters an infinite loop scenario that consumes excessive computational resources, effectively rendering the application unresponsive to legitimate requests.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within the ivr_read_header() function where the software processes a "len" field in the file header without performing proper end-of-file checks. The flaw manifests when an attacker crafts an IVR file that declares a large length value in its header structure but provides insufficient actual data to satisfy that claimed length. This discrepancy triggers a loop that iterates based on the inflated length parameter, with each iteration consuming significant CPU cycles without proper boundary validation. The loop operates under the condition type==4, where the absence of EOF checks allows the processing to continue indefinitely until system resources are exhausted.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to any system or application that relies on FFmpeg for media processing, particularly those handling untrusted user uploads or third-party media content. The resource exhaustion attack can be executed with minimal payload requirements, making it particularly dangerous for web applications, media servers, and content management systems. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it can lead to complete system unavailability, potentially affecting multiple concurrent users or processes depending on the system architecture. Security researchers categorize this as a resource exhaustion attack that can be leveraged for DoS conditions with relatively low computational overhead from the attacker's perspective.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length fields, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-400, focusing on resource exhaustion issues. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service, and potentially T1595.001 for reconnaissance activities that could lead to exploitation. The flaw represents a classic example of insufficient input validation that allows attackers to manipulate parsing logic through crafted file structures. This vulnerability underscores the critical importance of implementing proper boundary checks and input validation in multimedia processing libraries, as these components often handle untrusted data from diverse sources. Organizations utilizing FFmpeg should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions and implement additional input validation layers where possible.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14054 should include immediate upgrade to FFmpeg versions that have addressed this vulnerability, typically those released after the patching cycle in late 2017. System administrators should also consider implementing file size limits and processing timeouts for media files to prevent exploitation attempts from consuming excessive resources. Additional protective measures include deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious file processing patterns and implementing sandboxed environments for media processing tasks to contain potential impacts. Organizations should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of their media processing pipelines and ensure that all third-party libraries and dependencies are kept current with security patches to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of their software stack.