CVE-2018-13304 in FFmpeg
Summary
by MITRE
In libavcodec in FFmpeg 4.0.1, improper maintenance of the consistency between the context profile field and studio_profile in libavcodec may trigger an assertion failure while converting a crafted AVI file to MPEG4, leading to a denial of service, related to error_resilience.c, h263dec.c, and mpeg4videodec.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/03/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2018-13304 represents a critical consistency breach within FFmpeg's libavcodec library that manifests during video decoding operations. This issue specifically affects version 4.0.1 and stems from improper synchronization between the context profile field and studio_profile parameters within the video decoding framework. The flaw occurs when processing specially crafted AVI files that are converted to MPEG4 format, creating a scenario where the decoder's internal state becomes inconsistent, ultimately triggering an assertion failure.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the error handling mechanisms within the H.263 and MPEG4 video decoders. When a maliciously constructed AVI file is processed, the decoder fails to maintain proper consistency between the profile field that defines the video encoding standards and the studio_profile parameter that specifies the professional profile requirements. This inconsistency leads to an assertion failure in the error_resilience.c, h263dec.c, and mpeg4videodec.c files, which are fundamental components of FFmpeg's video decoding infrastructure. The assertion failure occurs because the decoder's internal validation logic detects an invalid state transition that should never occur under normal operation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant denial of service risk to systems that rely on FFmpeg for video processing tasks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specific AVI files that, when processed through FFmpeg's conversion pipeline, will cause the application to crash or terminate unexpectedly. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where FFmpeg is used for automated video processing, content management systems, or streaming services where uninterrupted operation is critical. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can potentially disrupt entire video processing workflows and compromise service availability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-682, which addresses incorrect use of mathematical operations, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations using FFmpeg in production environments should prioritize immediate patching to address this issue, as the vulnerability does not require elevated privileges to exploit and can be triggered through simple file processing operations. The fix typically involves implementing proper synchronization mechanisms between profile fields and ensuring that assertion checks properly validate the consistency of video decoding contexts before proceeding with further processing operations.