CVE-2017-9301 in VLC Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
plugins\audio_filter\libmpgatofixed32_plugin.dll in VideoLAN VLC media player 2.2.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (invalid read and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/26/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-9301 affects VideoLAN VLC media player version 2.2.4 through a flaw in the audio_filter\libmpgatofixed32_plugin.dll component. This issue represents a critical security weakness that can be exploited remotely by attackers who craft malicious media files designed to trigger specific memory access violations within the application. The vulnerability manifests when VLC processes specially constructed audio files that contain malformed data structures within the MPEG audio format processing pipeline. The affected plugin serves as a converter that transforms MPEG audio data into fixed-point format, and this conversion process contains insufficient input validation mechanisms that allow attackers to manipulate the data flow and cause unintended program behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves triggering an invalid memory read operation that occurs during the processing of crafted audio files. When VLC attempts to decode and convert the malicious audio data through the mpgatofixed32 plugin, the application encounters malformed data that causes it to access memory locations outside of its allocated buffer boundaries. This invalid read operation ultimately leads to an application crash and complete denial of service, effectively rendering the media player unusable for legitimate users. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which is a well-known weakness that can lead to both denial of service and potential information disclosure depending on the specific memory access patterns. The issue falls within the ATT&CK framework under the technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, specifically targeting client-side applications that process multimedia content.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-9301 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks when combined with other exploitation techniques. While the immediate effect is a denial of service that prevents normal media playback, the vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that attackers might be able to leverage this flaw as a stepping stone for additional compromise. The vulnerability affects users who rely on VLC for media playback across various platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux systems, making it a widespread concern for both individual users and enterprise environments. Organizations that deploy VLC as part of their media processing workflows or as default media players in their computing environments face significant risk of service interruption and potential exploitation by threat actors who may be targeting these systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected VLC media player version 2.2.4, with the release of version 2.2.5 containing the necessary fixes for the mpgatofixed32 plugin. Security administrators should implement network-based restrictions that prevent access to untrusted media files, particularly those from unknown sources or user-generated content that may contain malicious audio data. The recommended approach includes disabling or removing the vulnerable plugin from systems where it is not essential for functionality, though this may impact legitimate use cases for certain audio formats. Additionally, organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual media file access patterns and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds that identify malicious files potentially exploiting this vulnerability. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking and input validation within the audio processing pipeline, ensuring that all data elements are properly validated before being processed by the mpgatofixed32 conversion functions, thereby preventing the invalid memory access conditions that lead to the application crash.