CVE-2018-14532 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.5.1-624. There is a heap-based buffer over-read in AP4_Mpeg2TsVideoSampleStream::WriteSample in Core/Ap4Mpeg2Ts.cpp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-14532 represents a critical heap-based buffer over-read flaw within the Bento4 media processing library version 1.5.1-624. This issue resides in the AP4_Mpeg2TsVideoSampleStream::WriteSample function located in the Core/Ap4Mpeg2Ts.cpp source file, making it a significant concern for systems that process MPEG-2 transport stream media files. The flaw manifests when the library attempts to write video sample data to MPEG-2 transport stream containers, creating potential opportunities for attackers to exploit memory corruption vulnerabilities that could lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the MPEG-2 transport stream processing logic where the application fails to validate the size of incoming video sample data against the allocated buffer space. This buffer over-read condition occurs when the WriteSample function processes video samples that exceed the expected buffer boundaries, allowing subsequent memory access beyond the allocated heap space. Such behavior creates a classic security weakness that aligns with CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities in software implementations. The flaw operates at the intersection of media processing and memory management, where legitimate media parsing operations can be manipulated to trigger memory corruption conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it represents a potential pathway for remote code execution within applications that utilize Bento4 for media processing. Systems employing this library for streaming media, content packaging, or digital rights management operations become vulnerable to exploitation when processing maliciously crafted MPEG-2 transport stream files. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability through file upload mechanisms, network streaming endpoints, or automated media processing pipelines, making it particularly dangerous in environments where untrusted media content is processed. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the Execution and Memory Manipulation domains, as it enables adversaries to manipulate program execution flow through memory corruption techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-14532 should prioritize immediate patching of affected Bento4 installations to version 1.5.1-625 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. Organizations should implement robust input validation mechanisms for all media processing workflows, particularly those involving MPEG-2 transport streams, to prevent exploitation attempts. Additional defensive measures include deploying memory corruption detection tools, implementing network segmentation for media processing systems, and establishing automated monitoring for suspicious media file processing activities. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for media file handling operations and regularly audit media processing pipelines for similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities. The remediation approach aligns with industry best practices for memory safety and follows the principle of least privilege by limiting media processing capabilities to essential functions only.