CVE-2017-14647 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
A heap-based buffer overflow was discovered in AP4_VisualSampleEntry::ReadFields in Core/Ap4SampleEntry.cpp in Bento4 1.5.0-617. The vulnerability causes an out-of-bounds write, which leads to remote denial of service or possibly code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2021
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability CVE-2017-14647 exists within the Bento4 library version 1.5.0-617, specifically in the AP4_VisualSampleEntry::ReadFields function located in Core/Ap4SampleEntry.cpp. This flaw represents a critical security issue that demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices in multimedia file parsing components. The vulnerability manifests when processing malformed mp4 files, particularly those containing visual sample entries that trigger the buffer overflow condition during field reading operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of visual sample entry fields within mp4 containers. When the ReadFields method processes incoming data, it fails to properly validate the size of incoming buffers before writing data to heap-allocated memory regions. This oversight creates a condition where an attacker can craft malicious mp4 files that, when processed by software utilizing Bento4, cause the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow, which means that the overflow occurs in heap memory rather than stack memory, making it particularly dangerous as it can lead to memory corruption and unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, depending on the specific implementation and memory layout of affected systems. When exploited, the out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent memory regions, potentially overwriting function pointers, return addresses, or other critical program data structures. This memory corruption can result in application crashes, system instability, or in more sophisticated attack scenarios, provide attackers with remote code execution capabilities. The vulnerability affects any software that relies on Bento4 for mp4 file processing, including media players, streaming servers, content management systems, and digital rights management applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14647 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Bento4 installations to version 1.5.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should also implement input validation measures that restrict the processing of untrusted mp4 files and consider deploying network segmentation and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification and represents a typical attack vector categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.3.002 for remote code execution through malformed media files. Security professionals should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of all systems utilizing Bento4 and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts through anomalous file processing patterns.