CVE-2019-20168 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in GPAC version 0.8.0 and 0.9.0-development-20191109. There is a use-after-free in the function gf_isom_box_dump_ex() in isomedia/box_funcs.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-20168 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the GPAC multimedia framework version 0.8.0 and 0.9.0-development-20191109. This flaw exists in the gf_isom_box_dump_ex() function located in the isomedia/box_funcs.c source file, which is part of the ISO media file handling components. The issue arises when the application processes malformed or specially crafted media files that trigger the function to access memory that has already been freed, creating potential avenues for arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. When the gf_isom_box_dump_ex() function processes certain input parameters or file structures, it fails to properly manage memory references, leading to situations where pointers become invalid after their associated memory blocks are deallocated. This memory management error can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious media files designed to trigger the vulnerable code path during parsing operations. The vulnerability demonstrates poor resource management practices where the function does not adequately validate input data or maintain proper reference counting mechanisms before accessing allocated memory regions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize GPAC for multimedia processing, including content delivery networks, media servers, and multimedia applications that handle user-uploaded files. Attackers could potentially execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of GPAC by persuading users to open specially crafted media files or by compromising content delivery pipelines. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or privilege escalation depending on the execution environment. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where GPAC is used as a backend component for processing untrusted media content, making it a prime target for exploitation in web applications and content management systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-20168 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that have patched the memory management flaw in the gf_isom_box_dump_ex() function. System administrators should implement strict input validation and sanitization measures for all media files processed through GPAC, including content filtering and automated malware scanning. Network segmentation and access controls should be enforced to limit exposure of vulnerable systems, while regular security assessments should monitor for potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and stack canaries to complicate exploitation attempts, though these measures provide only partial protection against use-after-free vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of updated software versions to ensure that the patch effectively resolves the memory management issue without introducing regressions in functionality.