CVE-2021-45259 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
An Invalid pointer reference vulnerability exists in gpac 1.1.0 via the gf_svg_node_del function, which causes a segmentation fault and application crash.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45259 represents a critical invalid pointer reference flaw within the gpac multimedia framework version 1.1.0. This issue manifests specifically within the gf_svg_node_del function, which is responsible for handling the deletion of SVG nodes in the graphics processing pipeline. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices where the function fails to properly validate pointer references before attempting to dereference them during node removal operations. This flaw allows malicious actors to craft specially crafted SVG content that triggers the invalid pointer access, leading to unpredictable application behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exposes a fundamental weakness in the memory management subsystem of gpac, specifically in how it handles dynamic memory allocation and deallocation for SVG node structures. When the gf_svg_node_del function processes a node deletion request, it attempts to access memory locations that may have already been freed or are otherwise invalid. This invalid pointer reference directly translates to a segmentation fault, causing the application to crash abruptly and potentially leading to denial of service conditions. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-476 category of NULL Pointer Dereference, which is classified as a critical weakness in software security practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems utilizing gpac for multimedia processing, particularly in environments where SVG content is processed or rendered. The segmentation fault resulting from this flaw can be exploited to cause application crashes, potentially leading to service disruption for legitimate users. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to perform denial of service attacks against applications that depend on gpac for SVG processing, especially in web browsers, multimedia players, or content management systems that integrate this library. The impact extends beyond simple crashes as the instability introduced by this vulnerability could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code, depending on the broader system context and memory layout.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45259 should prioritize immediate patching of affected gpac installations to version 1.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for abnormal application crashes or segmentation faults in environments where gpac is deployed. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened to filter potentially malicious SVG content before processing, implementing strict sanitization routines that prevent malformed data from reaching the vulnerable function. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1203 category of Exploitation for Defense Evasion, as attackers could use the instability to bypass security controls through application crashes. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for SVG processing to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts, while maintaining regular security updates to address similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in multimedia frameworks.