CVE-2019-20164 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GPAC version 0.8.0 and 0.9.0-development-20191109. There is a NULL pointer dereference in the function gf_isom_box_del() in isomedia/box_funcs.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20164 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the GPAC media processing library version 0.8.0 and the development version 0.9.0-20191109. This issue manifests specifically within the gf_isom_box_del() function located in the isomedia/box_funcs.c source file, demonstrating a fundamental failure in memory management and input validation that can lead to system instability and potential exploitation. The flaw occurs when the application attempts to dereference a null pointer during the deletion process of ISO media boxes, which are essential components in handling multimedia file formats such as mp4 and 3gp files. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is classified as a common weakness in software development practices. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through malformed media files or malformed input data that the application processes, making it a potential vector for denial of service attacks or more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it can be leveraged to disrupt services that depend on GPAC for media processing. Systems utilizing GPAC for video encoding, decoding, or streaming operations become susceptible to crashes when processing maliciously crafted media files, potentially leading to complete service outages. This vulnerability affects a wide range of applications that rely on GPAC's ISO media file handling capabilities, including multimedia players, streaming servers, and content processing systems. The null pointer dereference can cause the application to terminate unexpectedly, which aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service, where adversaries can exploit software vulnerabilities to cause system unavailability. The flaw demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where proper null checks are not implemented before pointer dereference operations, a common pattern observed in many software security incidents. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause cascading failures in applications that process multimedia content, particularly in environments where automated processing of user-uploaded files occurs.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20164 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GPAC versions to the latest stable releases that contain the fix for this null pointer dereference. Organizations should implement input validation measures that sanitize all media files before processing them through GPAC libraries, reducing the attack surface for potential exploitation. The fix implemented in newer versions typically involves adding proper null pointer checks before attempting to dereference pointers in the gf_isom_box_del() function, ensuring that the code gracefully handles cases where expected data structures may be missing or invalid. Security teams should monitor for any related vulnerabilities in the GPAC ecosystem and maintain updated threat intelligence regarding similar memory corruption issues that may affect multimedia processing libraries. Additionally, implementing sandboxing techniques for media processing operations can provide containment for potential exploitation attempts, while network segmentation and access controls can limit the impact of successful attacks. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper defensive programming practices and thorough code review processes, particularly for libraries handling untrusted input data, as highlighted by the CWE-691 category of Insufficient Control Flow Management, which emphasizes the need for robust error handling and input validation in software security design.