CVE-2021-41457 in MP4Box
Summary
by MITRE • 10/01/2021
There is a stack buffer overflow in MP4Box 1.1.0 at src/filters/dmx_nhml.c in nhmldmx_init_parsing which leads to a denial of service vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-41457 represents a critical stack buffer overflow flaw within the MP4Box media processing component version 1.1.0. This issue specifically manifests in the nhmldmx_init_parsing function located within the src/filters/dmx_nhml.c source file, where improper input validation and memory management practices create exploitable conditions that can compromise system stability. The MP4Box utility is part of the GPAC multimedia framework commonly used for processing and manipulating various digital media formats including mp4 containers, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for multimedia processing environments.
The technical implementation of this buffer overflow occurs when the nhmldmx_init_parsing function processes incoming data without adequate bounds checking or size validation. This flaw allows an attacker to provide maliciously crafted input that exceeds the allocated stack buffer space, resulting in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent stack variables and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The vulnerability falls under CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue that has been consistently identified as one of the most prevalent and dangerous classes of software vulnerabilities in cybersecurity assessments. The stack buffer overflow in this context represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can create exploitable conditions that bypass normal program execution flow.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the execution environment and system configuration. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the MP4Box application to crash or behave unpredictably, leading to service interruption and potential denial of service for legitimate users. However, the vulnerability also presents opportunities for more advanced exploitation techniques such as code injection or privilege escalation, particularly when the affected software runs with elevated privileges or processes untrusted media files from web applications or file sharing platforms. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where media processing applications handle content from untrusted sources, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution which focuses on using vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-41457 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected MP4Box version to address the underlying buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement strict input validation measures and employ robust memory safety techniques such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap-based buffer overflow protections. Additionally, network segmentation and access controls should be implemented to limit exposure of vulnerable systems to untrusted input sources. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper code review practices, particularly for multimedia processing libraries that handle complex file format parsing. System administrators should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual application behavior or crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of all multimedia processing components within their infrastructure and ensure that proper sandboxing mechanisms are in place to contain potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of memory safety in multimedia processing applications and the need for comprehensive security testing throughout the software development lifecycle.