CVE-2019-8382 in Bento4
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in Bento4 1.5.1-628. A NULL pointer dereference occurs in the function AP4_List:Find located in Core/Ap4List.h when called from Core/Ap4Movie.cpp. It can be triggered by sending a crafted file to the mp4dump 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-2019-8382 resides within the Bento4 multimedia framework version 1.5.1-628, specifically targeting the AP4_List::Find function implementation in the Core/Ap4List.h header file. This flaw represents a classic null pointer dereference condition that manifests when processing specially crafted media files through the mp4dump utility. The issue originates from insufficient input validation and error handling within the list traversal mechanism, where the function attempts to access a null pointer reference without proper null checks, creating a fundamental memory safety vulnerability that affects the entire Bento4 library ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious mp4 file that, when processed by the mp4dump binary, triggers the AP4_List::Find function in Core/Ap4Movie.cpp. The flaw stems from the absence of null pointer validation before dereferencing pointers within the list structure, allowing an attacker to manipulate the program flow through crafted input data. This particular vulnerability maps to CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL Pointer Dereference, and falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that can lead to system instability. The attack surface is limited to applications that utilize the Bento4 library for processing mp4 files, particularly those that employ the mp4dump utility for media file analysis and debugging purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, though that remains the primary concern. When exploited, the NULL pointer dereference results in segmentation faults that crash the mp4dump process, effectively causing a denial of service condition for legitimate users attempting to analyze or debug mp4 files. However, the potential for more severe consequences exists, as the vulnerability could potentially be leveraged in combination with other flaws to achieve arbitrary code execution, particularly in environments where the mp4dump utility is executed with elevated privileges or in automated processing pipelines. The vulnerability affects both local and remote attack scenarios, making it particularly dangerous in web-based media processing applications or content delivery networks that utilize Bento4 for media file manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8382 should focus on immediate patching of the Bento4 library to version 1.5.1-629 or later, which contains the necessary null pointer validation fixes. Organizations should implement input validation measures that sanitize all mp4 file inputs before processing, particularly in automated systems where untrusted media files are processed. The implementation of proper error handling and defensive programming practices, such as null pointer checks before dereferencing, should be enforced throughout the codebase. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing sandboxing techniques for mp4dump utility execution and monitor for unusual process termination patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network-based mitigations could include filtering of suspicious media file content at ingress points, while application-level protections should enforce strict file format validation and implement proper resource management to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Privilege Escalation) highlights the importance of privilege separation and access control measures to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.