CVE-2019-8243 in Media Encoder
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Media Encoder versions 13.1 and earlier have an out-of-bounds read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to information disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2025
Adobe Media Encoder version 13.1 and earlier contains a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that stems from improper input validation within the application's media processing pipeline. This flaw exists in the handling of malformed media files or specific parameter sequences during encoding operations, where the software attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition, which occurs when a program reads data beyond the end of a allocated buffer, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory locations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly validate input parameters when processing multimedia files, particularly those containing crafted or malformed metadata structures. When Adobe Media Encoder encounters such malformed inputs during the encoding process, the software's memory management routines execute operations that access memory addresses outside the intended buffer limits. This condition can result in the exposure of sensitive data including but not limited to encryption keys, user credentials, system memory contents, or application state information that may be stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates silently without requiring user interaction beyond the simple act of opening or processing a malicious media file.
From an operational perspective, exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to significant information disclosure risks that may compromise the confidentiality of sensitive data processed by the application. Attackers could potentially craft specially formatted media files that trigger the out-of-bounds read condition, causing the application to leak memory contents that could contain proprietary information, user data, or system configuration details. The impact extends beyond simple data exposure as the leaked information could potentially be used to facilitate further attacks or compromise additional system components. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1005 as it enables data hijacking through memory access violations that expose sensitive information.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Adobe Media Encoder version 13.2 or later, which includes patches addressing this specific out-of-bounds read condition. Security teams should implement monitoring for unusual memory access patterns or unexpected application behavior when processing media files, particularly those received from untrusted sources. Additional mitigations include implementing strict file validation procedures, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for media processing, and establishing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing applications, aligning with industry best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity frameworks for preventing memory corruption vulnerabilities.