CVE-2018-13006 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in MP4Box in GPAC 0.7.1. There is a heap-based buffer over-read in the isomedia/box_dump.c function hdlr_dump.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/29/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-13006 resides within the MP4Box component of the GPAC multimedia framework version 0.7.1, representing a critical heap-based buffer over-read condition that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. This flaw specifically manifests in the isomedia/box_dump.c source file at the hdlr_dump function, where improper bounds checking allows an attacker to read data from memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of input data structures when processing mp4 container format files, particularly those containing handler reference boxes that define media types and processing information for different tracks within the multimedia content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a maliciously crafted mp4 file is processed by MP4Box, triggering the buffer over-read condition during the dumping or display of handler reference box information. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that the over-read accesses memory allocated on the heap rather than the stack, making the exploitation more complex but potentially more reliable in certain environments. The issue is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which directly relates to improper validation of buffer boundaries and insufficient input sanitization. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by constructing specially formatted mp4 files that contain malformed handler reference boxes, causing the application to read beyond intended memory limits and potentially exposing sensitive data or enabling remote code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-13006 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability can be exploited in various contexts where GPAC-based applications process user-supplied media content. Systems utilizing MP4Box for media conversion, streaming, or playback operations become vulnerable to remote exploitation when handling untrusted mp4 files, including web applications, media processing servers, and content management systems that rely on GPAC for multimedia handling. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of the GPAC framework. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where automated processing of user-uploaded content occurs, as the exploitation can happen without user interaction, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability also relates to T1068 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation when exploited in contexts where the processing application runs with elevated privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-13006 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GPAC installations to version 0.7.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. Organizations should implement strict input validation and sanitization procedures for all mp4 files processed by GPAC-based applications, including the use of sandboxed environments and file format validation before processing. Network-level protections can include content filtering and the implementation of security policies that prevent processing of untrusted media files through vulnerable applications. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts through log analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include comprehensive testing of patched systems to ensure that the vulnerability has been properly addressed and that no regressions have been introduced in the media processing functionality. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of vulnerable versions of MP4Box and related GPAC components to minimize the attack surface.