CVE-2021-45260 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
A null pointer dereference vulnerability exists in gpac 1.1.0 in the lsr_read_id.part 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-2021-45260 represents a critical null pointer dereference flaw within the gpac multimedia framework version 1.1.0. This issue specifically manifests within the lsr_read_id.part function, which is responsible for processing certain data structures during media file parsing operations. The gpac library serves as a comprehensive multimedia framework that supports various codecs and container formats, making it a widely used component in media processing applications and streaming platforms. The vulnerability arises when the application encounters malformed or specially crafted input data that triggers the function to attempt dereferencing a null pointer, leading to immediate system termination and denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-476, which classifies null pointer dereference conditions as a fundamental programming error that can lead to application crashes and potential exploitation. When the lsr_read_id.part function processes input data, it fails to properly validate pointer references before attempting to access memory locations. This flaw occurs during the parsing of specific media file formats where the function expects certain data structures to be present but encounters null values instead. The segmentation fault that results from this condition typically manifests as an immediate application crash without any opportunity for graceful error handling or recovery mechanisms. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple application instability as it can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt services or potentially escalate privileges depending on the execution context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on gpac for media processing capabilities. Organizations using affected versions of gpac in streaming services, media servers, or content delivery platforms face potential service disruptions when maliciously crafted media files are processed through the system. The vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including file upload mechanisms, media processing pipelines, or content ingestion systems that utilize gpac for format conversion and analysis. The crash condition makes this particularly dangerous in environments where continuous operation is critical, as even a single malicious input can cause complete system downtime. Network-based attacks can be constructed to leverage this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted media files that trigger the null pointer dereference during normal processing operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45260 should prioritize immediate software updates to versions that contain patches addressing the null pointer dereference issue. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation measures to filter potentially malicious media files before processing them through gpac components. The implementation of sandboxing techniques and restricted execution environments can help contain potential exploitation attempts and limit the impact of successful attacks. Network-level controls such as intrusion detection systems and content filtering mechanisms should be deployed to identify and block suspicious media file patterns that could trigger the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments of their entire media processing pipeline to identify other potential attack surfaces that might be similarly affected by memory corruption vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, which encompasses exploitation of memory corruption flaws, and T1499, covering network disruption techniques that leverage application crashes for service availability attacks. Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures should be established to quickly detect and respond to exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.