CVE-2019-14535 in VLC Media Player
Summary
by MITRE
A divide-by-zero error exists in the SeekIndex function of demux/asf/asf.c in VideoLAN VLC media player 3.0.7.1. As a result, an FPE can be triggered via a crafted WMV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-14535 represents a critical divide-by-zero error within the VideoLAN VLC media player version 3.0.7.1. This flaw specifically manifests in the SeekIndex function located within the demux/asf/asf.c file, which is responsible for handling Advanced Systems Format file parsing operations. The issue arises when processing malformed WMV files that contain specially crafted data structures designed to trigger arithmetic exceptions during media playback operations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the domain of floating-point exceptions and integer division operations that can lead to application crashes or potential privilege escalation scenarios. When the SeekIndex function encounters a malformed WMV file, it attempts to perform division operations using zero as a divisor, causing the application to terminate abruptly or potentially execute unintended code paths. This divide-by-zero condition constitutes a fundamental mathematical error that violates standard arithmetic principles and can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt normal media playback operations.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users who may unknowingly encounter maliciously crafted WMV files through various attack vectors such as email attachments, malicious websites, or peer-to-peer file sharing networks. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the widespread use of VLC media player across multiple operating systems and platforms, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise end-user systems. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack scenarios including remote code execution or privilege escalation depending on the execution environment and system configuration.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-369, which specifically addresses the divide-by-zero error condition in software applications, and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to critical system instability. From an attacker's perspective, this flaw maps to several ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious file delivery and execution of malicious code via application exploitation. The vulnerability's classification as a floating-point exception error also connects it to broader security concerns around numerical precision and arithmetic error handling in multimedia processing applications. Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate patching of affected VLC installations to mitigate potential exploitation risks, as the vulnerability can be triggered simply through normal media playback of maliciously crafted files without requiring any special privileges or complex attack scenarios.