CVE-2018-20408 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.5.1-627. There is a memory leak in AP4_StdcFileByteStream::Create in System/StdC/Ap4StdCFileByteStream.cpp, as demonstrated by mp42hls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-20408 resides within the Bento4 multimedia framework version 1.5.1-627, specifically affecting the AP4_StdcFileByteStream::Create function implementation in the System/StdC/Ap4StdCFileByteStream.cpp source file. This memory leak represents a critical security flaw that can significantly impact the stability and resource consumption of applications utilizing the Bento4 library for processing multimedia content, particularly in streaming scenarios involving mp42hls conversion processes. The issue manifests when the library handles file byte stream operations, creating a persistent memory allocation that fails to be properly released during the processing lifecycle.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the file byte stream creation mechanism, where allocated memory buffers are not correctly deallocated upon function completion or error conditions. This memory leak occurs during the AP4_StdcFileByteStream::Create operation, which is responsible for establishing file input/output streams for multimedia processing within the Bento4 framework. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-401, which categorizes memory leaks as a common software vulnerability where allocated memory is not properly freed, leading to gradual resource exhaustion over time. When applications repeatedly invoke the affected function or process multiple files, the cumulative effect of unreleased memory creates a persistent degradation in system performance and can ultimately lead to application crashes or system instability.
The operational impact of this memory leak extends beyond simple resource consumption issues, particularly affecting systems that process large volumes of multimedia content through the mp42hls conversion tool. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability by crafting malicious input files or by repeatedly processing media streams, causing progressive memory exhaustion that may lead to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in server environments or streaming applications where continuous processing occurs, as the memory leak compounds over time and can render the system unresponsive. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers resource exhaustion attacks that can be achieved through memory leaks and other resource management flaws, potentially leading to system instability and service disruption.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-20408 should prioritize immediate patching of the Bento4 library to version 1.5.1-628 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement monitoring systems to track memory usage patterns in applications utilizing Bento4, particularly those handling multimedia streams, to detect early signs of memory exhaustion. Additionally, input validation and sanitization measures should be strengthened to prevent exploitation through malformed media files, while regular security audits of multimedia processing pipelines can help identify similar memory management issues. The fix typically involves ensuring proper deallocation of memory buffers in the AP4_StdcFileByteStream::Create function, implementing robust error handling that guarantees cleanup operations regardless of execution path, and conducting thorough testing to verify that all allocated resources are properly released during normal and exceptional processing conditions.