CVE-2018-20186 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.5.1-627. AP4_Sample::ReadData in Core/Ap4Sample.cpp allows attackers to trigger an attempted excessive memory allocation, related to AP4_DataBuffer::SetDataSize and AP4_DataBuffer::ReallocateBuffer in Core/Ap4DataBuffer.cpp.
Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/19/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20186 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Bento4 multimedia framework version 1.5.1-627. This issue resides in the AP4_Sample::ReadData function located in Core/Ap4Sample.cpp, which demonstrates a dangerous pattern of memory allocation behavior that can be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes malformed multimedia files, specifically those containing crafted sample data that triggers abnormal memory allocation requests. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the core level of the multimedia processing pipeline, where it can affect any application that relies on Bento4 for handling mp4 and related multimedia formats.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking within the AP4_DataBuffer::SetDataSize and AP4_DataBuffer::ReallocateBuffer functions in Core/Ap4DataBuffer.cpp. When AP4_Sample::ReadData processes sample data, it fails to properly validate the size parameters before attempting to allocate memory buffers. This creates a scenario where an attacker can craft a malicious multimedia file that causes the application to attempt allocating excessive memory blocks, potentially leading to memory exhaustion or system instability. The vulnerability follows a classic pattern of insufficient resource management where the application does not properly constrain memory allocation requests based on available system resources or logical data size constraints. This flaw directly maps to CWE-122, which describes insufficient resource management, and more specifically to CWE-770, which addresses allocation of resources without limits or with inadequate limits.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-20186 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors within the broader ATT&CK framework. An attacker exploiting this vulnerability could cause applications to consume excessive memory resources, leading to system instability, application crashes, or potentially even system-wide resource exhaustion. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where multimedia processing applications might be exposed to untrusted input from multiple sources. The attack surface includes any application that utilizes Bento4 for multimedia file processing, including content delivery networks, media servers, and multimedia applications that handle user-uploaded files. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal privileges and can be executed through standard multimedia file manipulation, making it an attractive target for automated exploitation tools.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20186 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and memory allocation limits within the affected components. Organizations should prioritize upgrading to patched versions of Bento4 where available, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases. Additionally, implementing strict memory allocation limits and validation checks within applications that utilize Bento4 can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security measures should include monitoring for abnormal memory allocation patterns, implementing resource quotas for multimedia processing tasks, and conducting regular security assessments of multimedia handling components. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of applying the principle of least privilege and input sanitization, as recommended by various security frameworks including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can further reduce the attack surface by limiting the exposure of vulnerable multimedia processing applications to untrusted inputs.