CVE-2021-44924 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
An infinite loop vulnerability exists in gpac 1.1.0 in the gf_log function, which causes a Denial of Service.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-44924 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the gpac multimedia framework version 1.1.0. This issue manifests specifically within the gf_log function, which serves as the primary logging mechanism for the application. The gpac framework is widely utilized for multimedia processing, streaming, and content creation across various platforms and applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for system administrators and security professionals who rely on its stability. The infinite loop condition occurs when specific malformed input data is processed through the logging function, causing the application to enter a continuous loop that consumes excessive system resources.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of log message formatting within the gf_log function, where recursive or iterative processing logic fails to properly terminate under certain conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of CWE-835, which specifically addresses the issue of infinite loops in software systems. When the logging function encounters malformed or specially crafted input parameters, the internal loop structure designed to format log messages becomes trapped in an endless cycle. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through user-supplied input or malformed media files that pass through the gpac framework, potentially allowing remote attackers to cause system resource exhaustion without requiring authentication or elevated privileges. The loop consumes cpu cycles and memory resources continuously until the system becomes unresponsive or the process is manually terminated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can affect any system or application that utilizes gpac 1.1.0 for multimedia processing or streaming operations. Organizations relying on gpac for content delivery, media processing pipelines, or streaming services face significant risk of service disruption, particularly in environments where continuous availability is critical. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious media files, malformed input streams, or crafted log messages that trigger the problematic code path. Systems running gpac in production environments, especially those handling high volumes of media content or serving multiple concurrent users, are particularly susceptible to this type of resource exhaustion attack that can lead to complete service unavailability. The vulnerability also impacts automated systems and continuous integration pipelines that depend on gpac for multimedia processing tasks, potentially causing cascading failures throughout dependent services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-44924 should prioritize immediate patching of affected gpac installations to version 1.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary code fixes to prevent the infinite loop condition. System administrators should implement input validation and sanitization measures to prevent malformed data from reaching the logging function, particularly in environments where user-supplied content is processed. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts by restricting access to gpac services and reducing the attack surface. Monitoring solutions should be deployed to detect unusual cpu utilization patterns or resource consumption spikes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and error handling in logging systems, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious patterns associated with resource exhaustion attacks, particularly those targeting logging functions and system resource management components that are commonly used in multimedia processing frameworks.