CVE-2018-19212 in libwebm
Summary
by MITRE
In libwebm through 2018-10-03, there is an abort caused by libwebm::Webm2Pes::InitWebmParser() that will lead to a DoS attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/11/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-19212 resides within the libwebm library, a component commonly used for processing webm media files in various applications and systems. This library serves as a parser for webm container format files, which are based on the matroska container specification and widely utilized in multimedia applications including browsers, media players, and streaming platforms. The specific flaw manifests in the libwebm::Webm2Pes::InitWebmParser() function where an improper handling of malformed input data causes the application to terminate abruptly through an abort signal rather than gracefully handling the error condition.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and error handling within the webm parser implementation. When processing specially crafted webm files, the InitWebmParser function fails to properly validate the structure and content of the input data, leading to a situation where the parser encounters unexpected data patterns that trigger an abort condition. This behavior represents a classic case of improper error handling that can be exploited by attackers to cause denial of service attacks. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-665 Improper Initialization and falls into the broader category of software faults that can lead to system instability and availability issues.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption, as it can be leveraged by malicious actors to perform targeted denial of service attacks against systems that rely on libwebm for media processing. When an attacker crafts a malicious webm file and successfully triggers the abort condition, the affected application or system component will terminate unexpectedly, potentially leading to complete service unavailability. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where automated media processing occurs, such as content management systems, streaming platforms, or media servers that process user-uploaded content without proper sanitization. The attack surface is broad given the widespread use of webm format in multimedia applications and the potential for this vulnerability to be exploited through various attack vectors including web browsers, media players, and server-side processing systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through library updates and comprehensive input validation. Organizations should prioritize updating to the latest version of libwebm that contains the patched implementation of the InitWebmParser function, which properly handles malformed input data without causing abort conditions. Additionally, implementing robust input sanitization and validation mechanisms at multiple layers of the application stack can provide defense-in-depth protection against similar vulnerabilities. System administrators should consider implementing monitoring and alerting for abnormal application termination patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of following secure coding practices and adhering to standards such as those defined in the ATT&CK framework under the T1499 technique for network denial of service, where attackers target application stability through carefully crafted inputs to cause system crashes or service interruptions. Organizations should also implement proper resource isolation and fail-safe mechanisms to ensure that a single vulnerable component does not compromise the overall system availability and reliability.