CVE-2017-5837 in GStreamer
Summary
by MITRE
The gst_riff_create_audio_caps function in gst-libs/gst/riff/riff-media.c in gst-plugins-base in GStreamer before 1.10.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (floating point exception and crash) via a crafted video file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5837 resides within the GStreamer multimedia framework, specifically in the gst-plugins-base component where the gst_riff_create_audio_caps function processes RIFF media files. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests as a floating point exception, leading to application crash and potential denial of service. The vulnerability affects GStreamer versions prior to 1.10.3, making it a significant concern for systems that rely on this multimedia framework for processing audio and video content. The RIFF (Resource Interchange File Format) is a container format commonly used for audio and video files, particularly those using the WAV format, which makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where multimedia files are processed automatically.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the gst_riff_create_audio_caps function. When processing a specially crafted video file, the function fails to properly handle malformed RIFF headers or audio parameters, leading to a division by zero or invalid floating point operation. This occurs because the function attempts to calculate audio capabilities based on malformed data extracted from the RIFF container without adequate bounds checking or error handling. The flaw specifically manifests when the function encounters unexpected values in the audio format parameters, causing the floating point unit to execute an invalid operation that results in a crash. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-191, which describes integer underflow conditions, and CWE-190, which covers integer overflow conditions, as the malformed data can cause arithmetic operations to exceed valid ranges.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5837 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be exploited by remote attackers to disrupt services through denial of service attacks. Systems that automatically process multimedia content, such as media servers, content management systems, or any application that utilizes GStreamer for file handling, become vulnerable to this attack vector. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in web applications or services that accept user-uploaded files, as attackers can craft malicious video files that will cause the processing application to crash whenever it attempts to analyze or convert these files. From an attack perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves network denial of service attacks, and T1059.007, which covers script-based execution through command-line interfaces. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it requires no special privileges beyond the ability to upload or process a crafted file, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5837 primarily focus on upgrading to GStreamer version 1.10.3 or later, where the vulnerability has been patched through improved input validation and error handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems utilizing GStreamer components are updated promptly. Additionally, deploying input validation measures at network boundaries or application level can provide defense-in-depth protection against malformed file processing. Security teams should consider implementing sandboxing techniques for multimedia processing applications, which can isolate the impact of such vulnerabilities and prevent cascading failures. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper code review practices, particularly around mathematical operations and buffer handling, as recommended by secure coding guidelines such as those outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices. Organizations should also consider implementing automated file validation systems that can detect and reject suspicious media files before they reach the processing layer, reducing the attack surface for such vulnerabilities.