CVE-2018-9440 in Android
Summary
by MITRE • 11/20/2024
In parse of M3UParser.cpp there is a possible resource exhaustion due to improper input validation. This could lead to denial of service with no additional execution privileges needed. User interaction is needed for exploitation.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-9440 resides within the M3UParser.cpp component of a media processing application, specifically targeting the parsing logic responsible for handling m3u playlist files. This flaw represents a classic resource exhaustion vulnerability that can be exploited to cause denial of service conditions. The issue manifests when the parser encounters malformed or specially crafted input data that is not properly validated before processing, creating a scenario where computational resources become consumed excessively or inappropriately. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-400 which specifically addresses "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.200 focusing on resource exhaustion attacks. The parser's failure to implement adequate input validation mechanisms creates an opening for malicious actors to craft input sequences that trigger excessive memory allocation or processing cycles.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction since the parser typically processes user-provided m3u files or streams. When an attacker constructs a malicious m3u file containing malformed entries or excessive nesting, the M3UParser.cpp component begins to consume disproportionate system resources during parsing operations. This resource consumption can manifest as memory allocation exhaustion, CPU cycle saturation, or other forms of system resource depletion that prevent legitimate operations from completing successfully. The vulnerability does not require elevated privileges for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered by any user with access to the affected system's parsing functionality. The parser's lack of bounds checking or input sanitization allows recursive or iterative processing patterns to continue indefinitely until system resources are exhausted, leading to a denial of service condition that affects the availability of the service or application.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-9440 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially affect system stability and availability across multiple user sessions. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can cause applications to become unresponsive, crash unexpectedly, or require manual restart to recover. The resource exhaustion effect can be particularly severe in environments where multiple users interact with the parsing functionality simultaneously, as the cumulative effect of individual malicious inputs can overwhelm system resources. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by its potential for automated exploitation through malicious file distribution or web-based attack vectors, where users might unknowingly trigger the vulnerable parsing logic. Organizations relying on this parsing functionality for media processing, streaming services, or playlist management systems face significant risk of service degradation or complete outages. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service issue means that recovery typically requires manual intervention to clear resource consumption or restart affected processes, potentially leading to extended downtime and user frustration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-9440 should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation and resource monitoring within the parsing logic. The most effective approach involves adding strict bounds checking, maximum nesting limits, and memory consumption thresholds to prevent the parser from entering resource-consuming loops or allocating excessive memory. Implementing proper input sanitization and limiting the size of parsed entries can significantly reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing rate limiting and resource consumption monitoring to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The fix should be applied at the source code level in M3UParser.cpp by adding validation checks that prevent malformed input from triggering excessive resource allocation. Additionally, defensive programming practices such as implementing timeout mechanisms for parsing operations and establishing maximum processing limits should be implemented. System administrators should also deploy monitoring solutions that can detect unusual resource consumption patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. The implementation of these mitigations aligns with security best practices outlined in OWASP Top 10 and NIST cybersecurity frameworks, specifically addressing the prevention of resource exhaustion attacks and ensuring robust input validation. Regular security testing and code reviews should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other parsing components within the application stack.