CVE-2019-8244 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 insufficient input validation within the application's media processing routines. This vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where an application attempts to access memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw occurs when the software processes specially crafted media files that contain malformed metadata or structured data within their headers. When Adobe Media Encoder attempts to parse these maliciously constructed files, it fails to properly validate the bounds of memory allocations, leading to unauthorized memory access patterns that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in memory safety mechanisms that can potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could extract sensitive information from the application's memory space, including cryptographic keys, user credentials, or proprietary media processing algorithms. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Adobe Media Encoder is used for professional video editing and media processing workflows, as these systems often handle confidential content and may be deployed in networked environments where remote exploitation is feasible. According to the attack pattern taxonomy, this vulnerability aligns with the technique of information gathering through memory corruption, which is categorized under the broader ATT&CK framework's T1005 - Data from Local System category.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious media file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during the parsing process. This typically involves creating specially formatted media containers with oversized or malformed metadata fields that cause the application to access memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where bounds checking mechanisms are either absent or insufficiently implemented, making it a prime candidate for exploitation in environments where attackers can influence the media files processed by the application. Organizations should note that this vulnerability affects not just individual user systems but also enterprise media processing servers and workflows where batch processing of media files occurs, potentially allowing for widespread information disclosure across multiple systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe Media Encoder installations to version 13.2 or later, which contains the necessary memory validation fixes. System administrators should implement additional protective measures such as restricting media file upload capabilities in networked environments and deploying content filtering solutions that can identify and block potentially malicious media files before they reach the encoder. The implementation of memory safety features such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of exploitation, particularly in enterprise environments where the application may be exposed to untrusted media sources. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure, as the vulnerability could persist in legacy systems or third-party applications that utilize the affected Adobe Media Encoder components.