CVE-2017-14638 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
AP4_AtomFactory::CreateAtomFromStream in Core/Ap4AtomFactory.cpp in Bento4 version 1.5.0-617 has missing NULL checks, leading to a NULL pointer dereference, segmentation fault, and application crash in AP4_Atom::SetType in Core/Ap4Atom.h.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14638 resides within the Bento4 multimedia framework version 1.5.0-617, specifically in the AP4_AtomFactory::CreateAtomFromStream function located in Core/Ap4AtomFactory.cpp. This flaw represents a critical security issue that stems from insufficient input validation and missing NULL pointer checks within the atom creation process. The Bento4 library serves as a comprehensive multimedia framework for parsing and generating various media formats including mp4, mpeg-4, and other related container formats, making it widely used in media processing applications and streaming services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the AP4_AtomFactory attempts to create atoms from stream data without properly validating whether the input data pointers are NULL before attempting to dereference them. This missing validation leads to a NULL pointer dereference condition that ultimately manifests as a segmentation fault when the AP4_Atom::SetType function in Core/Ap4Atom.h tries to operate on the invalid memory reference. The flaw is classified as a CWE-476_NULL_Pointer_Dereference, which directly maps to the common weakness category for null pointer dereference vulnerabilities that occur when a program attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it creates a potential denial of service condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. When an attacker crafts specially malformed media files or streams that trigger the vulnerable code path, they can induce application crashes that may result in service disruption for legitimate users. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in server environments where Bento4 is used for media processing, as it can be leveraged to cause persistent service interruptions. The ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service and T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter can be applied to understand how this vulnerability might be exploited in broader attack chains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14638 should focus on immediate patching of the Bento4 library to version 1.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary NULL pointer validation fixes. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization measures and defensive programming practices can help prevent similar issues in other components of the application stack. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to make exploitation more difficult. The fix typically involves adding comprehensive NULL checks before any pointer dereference operations, ensuring that all input validation occurs before attempting to process data structures. Regular security audits and static code analysis should be conducted to identify similar patterns of missing input validation that could lead to comparable vulnerabilities in other parts of the codebase.