CVE-2017-14641 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
A NULL pointer dereference was discovered in the AP4_DataAtom class in MetaData/Ap4MetaData.cpp in Bento4 version 1.5.0-617. The vulnerability causes a segmentation fault and application crash, which leads to remote denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14641 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the Bento4 media processing library version 1.5.0-617. This issue specifically affects the AP4_DataAtom class located in the MetaData/Ap4MetaData.cpp source file, demonstrating a fundamental failure in input validation and memory management within the multimedia metadata handling subsystem. The flaw exists at the intersection of media file parsing and memory safety, where improper handling of malformed input data can lead to catastrophic application behavior. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects a widely used open-source library that serves as a foundation for numerous media processing applications and streaming platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from a classic null pointer dereference condition where the AP4_DataAtom class fails to properly validate pointer references before attempting to access memory locations. When processing specially crafted media files containing malformed metadata atoms, the application attempts to dereference a null pointer during the data atom parsing process, resulting in an immediate segmentation fault. This behavior aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses null pointer dereference vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to complete application termination. The vulnerability operates at the application level where the media parser encounters unexpected data structures that do not conform to expected formats, triggering the null pointer access that crashes the entire process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to encompass significant remote denial of service capabilities. An attacker can remotely exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious media files that contain specifically formatted metadata atoms designed to trigger the null pointer dereference. When a vulnerable application processes such files, the segmentation fault causes immediate application termination, effectively denying service to legitimate users who depend on the media processing functionality. This remote exploitation capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where applications automatically process user-uploaded media content, such as streaming platforms, content management systems, or media processing pipelines. The vulnerability can be leveraged to disrupt services at scale without requiring authentication or elevated privileges, making it a preferred target for denial of service attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14641 must address both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities. The most direct solution involves updating to Bento4 version 1.5.1 or later, where the null pointer dereference has been patched through proper input validation and pointer checking mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, as the vulnerability affects numerous applications that depend on the Bento4 library. Additionally, implementing defensive programming practices such as input sanitization, memory bounds checking, and robust error handling can prevent similar issues from occurring in other media processing components. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify attempts to exploit this vulnerability through malformed media file submissions, while following ATT&CK framework guidance for mitigating remote code execution and denial of service threats. The vulnerability underscores the importance of thorough testing with fuzzing tools and adversarial input validation to identify similar memory safety issues in multimedia processing libraries.