CVE-2021-45258 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
A stack overflow vulnerability exists in gpac 1.1.0 via the gf_bifs_dec_proto_list function, which causes a segmentation fault and application crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2021
The stack overflow vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45258 affects the gpac 1.1.0 media processing library, specifically within the gf_bifs_dec_proto_list function. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited to cause arbitrary code execution through controlled memory corruption. The issue arises from insufficient input validation and bounds checking during the processing of BIFS (Binary Interchange Format) protocol lists, which are commonly used in multimedia applications for describing interactive content and scene graphs. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, where the function fails to properly validate the size of input data before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer, creating a predictable memory corruption scenario.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when malformed BIFS protocol data is processed by the gf_bifs_dec_proto_list function, leading to a stack buffer overflow that overwrites adjacent memory locations including return addresses and stack canaries. This memory corruption ultimately results in a segmentation fault and application crash, effectively enabling a denial of service condition. The attack vector requires an attacker to craft malicious BIFS content that triggers the vulnerable code path, typically through media files or interactive content that utilizes the gpac library for processing. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds writes, where the program writes data past the end of a buffer located on the stack, potentially allowing for more sophisticated exploitation techniques.
Operationally, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that rely on gpac for multimedia processing, particularly in content delivery networks, media servers, and interactive multimedia applications. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable remote code execution if proper exploitation techniques are applied, though the current analysis suggests the primary risk is denial of service. The vulnerability affects any application that integrates gpac 1.1.0 and processes BIFS content, including streaming media servers, multimedia players, and content authoring tools. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework under T1203, which covers Obfuscated Files or Information, as attackers may use this vulnerability to bypass security controls or establish persistent access through compromised media processing pipelines.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45258 should prioritize immediate patching of gpac to version 1.1.1 or later, which includes proper bounds checking and input validation for the affected function. Organizations should implement defensive programming practices including stack canary instrumentation, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection to reduce exploitation success rates. Input sanitization measures should be deployed at network boundaries to filter out potentially malicious BIFS content before it reaches vulnerable applications. Additionally, monitoring systems should be enhanced to detect abnormal application behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, including unexpected segmentation faults or memory access violations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and comprehensive testing of third-party libraries in multimedia processing environments, particularly those handling user-provided content. Security teams should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts and reduce the attack surface for similar vulnerabilities in related components.