CVE-2018-20358 in Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder
Summary
by MITRE
An invalid memory address dereference was discovered in the lt_prediction function of libfaad/lt_predict.c in Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 (FAAD2) 2.8.8. The vulnerability causes a segmentation fault and application crash, which leads to denial of service.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20358 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Freeware Advanced Audio Decoder 2 version 2.8.8 implementation. This flaw exists in the lt_prediction function located within the libfaad/lt_predict.c source file, which is part of the core audio decoding library responsible for processing advanced audio formats. The issue manifests as an invalid memory address dereference that occurs during the processing of specific audio data streams, fundamentally compromising the stability and reliability of applications utilizing this decoder.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the lt_prediction function. When processing certain malformed or crafted audio inputs, the function attempts to access memory addresses that are either uninitialized, freed, or otherwise invalid. This improper memory access pattern directly results in a segmentation fault, causing the targeted application to terminate abruptly. The vulnerability specifically affects the decoder's ability to handle edge cases in audio data processing, where the prediction algorithms fail to properly validate buffer boundaries and memory references.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant denial of service threat to systems relying on FAAD2 for audio processing. Any application that incorporates this decoder, including media players, streaming services, or embedded systems handling audio content, becomes susceptible to crashes when encountering maliciously crafted audio files. The impact extends beyond simple application instability, as the segmentation fault can potentially be exploited to cause system-wide disruptions in environments where audio processing is critical. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only the delivery of specially crafted audio content, making it particularly dangerous in scenarios where users may encounter untrusted audio files.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference, though in this case it manifests as an invalid memory address dereference rather than a simple null pointer access. This classification aligns with the broader category of memory safety issues that frequently lead to system instability and potential exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability could be leveraged as part of a broader attack chain, potentially serving as an initial access vector or escalation mechanism in systems where audio processing capabilities are exposed to untrusted inputs.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20358 should prioritize immediate patching of the FAAD2 library to version 2.8.9 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the memory dereference issue. Organizations should implement input validation measures to sanitize audio data before processing, particularly in environments where untrusted audio files may be encountered. Additionally, application developers should consider implementing proper error handling and memory management practices, including bounds checking and proper resource cleanup. System administrators should monitor for any unusual application crashes or service disruptions that may indicate exploitation attempts, while maintaining updated threat intelligence regarding similar vulnerabilities in multimedia processing libraries. The remediation process should also include thorough testing of patched systems to ensure that the fix does not introduce regressions in audio processing functionality while maintaining robust protection against similar memory safety issues.