CVE-2018-12458 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
An improper integer type in the mpeg4_encode_gop_header function in libavcodec/mpeg4videoenc.c in FFmpeg 4.0 may trigger an assertion violation while converting a crafted AVI file to MPEG4, leading to a denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-12458 resides within the FFmpeg multimedia framework's mpeg4videoenc.c component, specifically within the mpeg4_encode_gop_header function. This flaw represents a critical integer type handling issue that manifests during the conversion process of maliciously crafted AVI files to MPEG4 format. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values that can lead to assertion failures during the encoding process, ultimately resulting in denial of service conditions. The affected version FFmpeg 4.0 demonstrates a lack of proper input validation and type checking mechanisms that should have prevented the erroneous integer operations from propagating through the encoding pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when FFmpeg processes a specially crafted AVI file that contains malformed or maliciously constructed data within its MPEG4 video stream headers. During the conversion process, the mpeg4_encode_gop_header function attempts to process integer values that exceed expected ranges or violate predetermined constraints. The assertion violation occurs when these improper integer types fail to meet the expected validation criteria, causing the application to terminate abruptly or enter an unstable state. This improper integer type handling falls under CWE-191, which specifically addresses integer underflow and overflow conditions, though the manifestation here is through assertion failures rather than direct arithmetic overflow.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-12458 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can be leveraged by attackers to disrupt multimedia processing services that rely on FFmpeg for video conversion tasks. Systems utilizing FFmpeg for automated video processing, content management platforms, or media streaming services become vulnerable to this attack vector when processing untrusted input files. The vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in server environments where FFmpeg is used to handle user-uploaded content, as malicious actors could exploit this weakness to repeatedly crash processing services, leading to resource exhaustion and availability disruption. This scenario aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through resource exhaustion.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of FFmpeg installations to versions that contain corrected integer type handling within the affected function. System administrators should implement input validation measures that filter or sanitize AVI files before processing them through FFmpeg, particularly when handling untrusted content. Additionally, deployment of intrusion detection systems that monitor for unusual process termination patterns or assertion failures during multimedia processing can help detect exploitation attempts. The fix implemented in subsequent FFmpeg releases typically involves proper bounds checking and type validation within the mpeg4_encode_gop_header function to prevent the propagation of invalid integer values that would otherwise trigger assertion violations. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for multimedia processing tasks to contain potential exploitation impacts and reduce the attack surface for similar vulnerabilities in the broader multimedia processing pipeline.