CVE-2019-8380 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.5.1-628. A NULL pointer dereference occurs in AP4_Track::GetSampleIndexForTimeStampMs() located in Core/Ap4Track.cpp. It can triggered by sending a crafted file to the mp4audioclip binary. It allows an attacker to cause a Denial of Service (Segmentation fault) or possibly have unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/10/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8380 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the Bento4 multimedia framework version 1.5.1-628. This issue manifests in the AP4_Track::GetSampleIndexForTimeStampMs() function located in the Core/Ap4Track.cpp source file, demonstrating a classic software security weakness that can be exploited through carefully crafted input files. The Bento4 library serves as a comprehensive multimedia framework for processing and manipulating mp4 files, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that process untrusted media content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when the mp4audioclip binary receives a malformed or specially crafted mp4 file as input. During the processing of such files, the GetSampleIndexForTimeStampMs() function attempts to dereference a null pointer, leading to a segmentation fault that terminates the application. This null pointer dereference represents a CWE-476 category vulnerability, specifically classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference, which is a common class of software defects that can result in application crashes or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context. The vulnerability's trigger mechanism is straightforward yet effective, requiring only the delivery of a maliciously constructed mp4 file to the vulnerable binary.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8380 extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the deployment environment. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, the segmentation fault causes the mp4audioclip binary to crash, effectively rendering the service unavailable to legitimate users and creating a denial of service condition. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that in certain environments or under specific conditions, this vulnerability might be exploitable for more advanced attack vectors, though the primary concern remains the reliable disruption of service. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers Network Denial of Service, and represents a clear example of how multimedia processing libraries can become attack surfaces when not properly validated.
Organizations utilizing Bento4 for media processing should implement immediate mitigations to protect their systems from exploitation of this vulnerability. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to a patched version of Bento4 where the null pointer dereference has been corrected through proper input validation and null pointer checks within the GetSampleIndexForTimeStampMs() function. Additionally, implementing proper input sanitization and validation for all mp4 files processed through the mp4audioclip binary can serve as a defensive measure. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring and alerting for unexpected binary crashes or segmentation faults, as these events may indicate successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of robust error handling in multimedia processing libraries and demonstrates how seemingly simple flaws can have significant operational consequences in production environments where such tools are deployed for automated content processing.