CVE-2020-19722 in Bento
Summary
by MITRE • 07/14/2021
An unhandled memory allocation failure in Core/Ap4Atom.cpp of Bento 1.5.1-628 causes a direct copy to NULL pointer dereference, leading to a denial of service (DOS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-19722 represents a critical memory management flaw within the Bento 1.5.1-628 media processing framework, specifically within the Core/Ap4Atom.cpp component. This issue manifests as an unhandled memory allocation failure that directly results in a NULL pointer dereference condition, creating a significant operational risk for systems relying on this software for media file processing and manipulation. The flaw occurs during the handling of atom structures within MP4 container formats, which are widely used for multimedia content delivery and storage across various digital platforms and streaming services.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate error handling within the memory allocation process of the AP4 atom parsing functionality. When the system attempts to allocate memory for processing media atom structures, a failure occurs that is not properly caught or managed by the application's error handling routines. This unhandled allocation failure leads to the program attempting to copy data to a NULL pointer, which fundamentally violates standard memory safety protocols and causes the application to crash or become unresponsive. The vulnerability specifically targets the Core/Ap4Atom.cpp file, indicating that this is a core component responsible for parsing and managing atom structures that form the foundation of MP4 file format handling within the Bento framework.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, creating substantial denial of service risks for systems that depend on Bento for media processing workflows. When exploited, the NULL pointer dereference causes immediate application termination, effectively preventing legitimate users from processing media files through the affected system. This denial of service condition can be particularly devastating in production environments where continuous media processing is required, such as content delivery networks, streaming platforms, or media processing pipelines. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal input complexity, making it accessible to attackers who wish to disrupt service availability without requiring advanced technical skills or extensive resources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. The flaw represents a classic example of insufficient error handling and memory management practices that have been documented as common attack vectors in numerous security assessments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique, which involves network denial of service attacks through application layer resource exhaustion or manipulation. Organizations utilizing Bento 1.5.1-628 should implement immediate mitigations including version upgrades to patched releases, input validation measures, and monitoring for abnormal application termination patterns. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of robust memory safety practices and comprehensive error handling in multimedia processing frameworks, particularly those handling complex container formats like MP4 that require precise memory management for proper operation.