CVE-2018-20407 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.5.1-627. There is a memory leak in AP4_DescriptorFactory::CreateDescriptorFromStream in Core/Ap4DescriptorFactory.cpp, as demonstrated by mp42hls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20407 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Bento4 media processing library version 1.5.1-627. This issue manifests specifically within the AP4_DescriptorFactory::CreateDescriptorFromStream function located in the Core/Ap4DescriptorFactory.cpp source file, demonstrating the potential for resource exhaustion through improper memory handling during media file processing. The vulnerability becomes particularly significant when analyzing media files processed through the mp42hls utility, which serves as a command-line tool for converting mp4 files to HLS format. The memory leak occurs during the parsing and descriptor creation process when handling specific malformed or crafted media files, creating a scenario where allocated memory is not properly released back to the system.
This memory leak vulnerability falls under the CWE-401 category of "Improper Release of Memory Before Explicit Transfer of Control to Another Part of Code" and represents a classic example of resource exhaustion that can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the core parsing layer of the media processing library, meaning any application or service utilizing Bento4 for media file handling could be susceptible to memory consumption attacks. When the AP4_DescriptorFactory::CreateDescriptorFromStream function processes malformed input streams, it fails to properly clean up allocated memory structures, leading to progressive memory accumulation that can eventually exhaust available system resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in server environments where multiple media files are processed continuously, as the memory leak compounds over time until system performance degrades or complete system failure occurs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple resource exhaustion to encompass potential service disruption and system instability across various applications that depend on Bento4 for media processing tasks. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted media files designed to trigger the memory leak condition during normal processing operations, effectively creating a denial of service scenario that can be executed remotely. The vulnerability affects not only individual applications but also entire media processing pipelines, particularly those involved in content delivery networks, streaming services, and media conversion platforms. The attack surface is broad given that Bento4 is widely used in various media processing applications, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for organizations relying on media file handling capabilities. The memory leak can be triggered through legitimate media file processing operations, making detection difficult and potentially allowing persistent exploitation without immediate system alerts.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20407 should focus on immediate patching of affected Bento4 versions to address the memory management issue within the descriptor factory implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive monitoring of memory usage patterns in systems processing media files through Bento4 to detect potential exploitation attempts. The recommended approach includes upgrading to patched versions of Bento4 where the memory leak has been resolved through proper memory cleanup mechanisms in the AP4_DescriptorFactory::CreateDescriptorFromStream function. Additionally, implementing input validation and sanitization measures can help reduce the risk of exploitation by filtering out malformed media files before they reach the vulnerable parsing functions. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of systems processing media content through Bento4, while regular security assessments should verify that no other components in the media processing pipeline contain similar memory management vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499.004 for "Endpoint Denial of Service" and T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" when considering potential exploitation methods through automated media processing attacks.