CVE-2018-21016 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE
audio_sample_entry_AddBox() at isomedia/box_code_base.c in GPAC 0.7.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap-based buffer over-read and application crash) via a crafted file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-21016 resides within the GPAC media processing library version 0.7.1, specifically in the audio_sample_entry_AddBox() function located in the isomedia/box_code_base.c source file. This flaw represents a heap-based buffer over-read condition that occurs when processing specially crafted media files, fundamentally compromising the stability and reliability of applications that utilize GPAC for multimedia content handling. The issue stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking during the parsing of audio sample entries within ISO media files, creating a scenario where maliciously constructed file structures can trigger memory access violations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of box structures within the ISO base media file format, which is widely used for storing audio and video content. When the audio_sample_entry_AddBox() function processes a malformed audio sample entry, it fails to properly validate the size parameters of the contained boxes, leading to a situation where the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This over-read condition manifests as an application crash or complete denial of service, effectively rendering the affected system unable to process legitimate media files until the application is restarted or the vulnerability is patched. The heap-based nature of the flaw indicates that the memory corruption occurs within the heap memory segment, making it particularly challenging to detect and exploit reliably.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to multimedia applications and services that depend on GPAC for processing audio content, including media players, streaming platforms, and content management systems. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this flaw without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous for web-based applications and services that process user-uploaded media files. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as successful exploitation can potentially lead to more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution, especially when combined with other vulnerabilities in the same codebase. Organizations using GPAC in production environments face elevated risk of service interruption and potential data processing failures when handling media content from untrusted sources.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application-specific command execution and T1499.004 for network denial of service. Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including input validation of media files, deployment of updated GPAC versions, and network segmentation to limit exposure to potentially malicious content. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing automated media file scanning and validation processes to prevent the processing of malformed content that could trigger this vulnerability, while also establishing monitoring protocols to detect potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires updating to patched versions of GPAC and conducting thorough security testing of all applications that utilize this library to ensure complete vulnerability remediation and prevent future exploitation attempts.