CVE-2021-45267 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 12/22/2021
An invalid memory address dereference vulnerability exists in gpac 1.1.0 via the svg_node_start 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-2021-45267 represents a critical memory safety issue within the gpac multimedia framework version 1.1.0. This vulnerability manifests through the svg_node_start function which processes svg (scalable vector graphics) content within the application. The flaw constitutes an invalid memory address dereference that occurs when the application attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated or are otherwise inaccessible. Such memory access violations are particularly dangerous as they can lead to unpredictable application behavior and system instability. The vulnerability specifically affects applications that utilize gpac for processing svg content, making it a significant concern for multimedia processing systems and content management platforms that rely on this framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the svg_node_start function. When processing malformed or specially crafted svg data structures, the function fails to properly validate memory pointers before attempting to dereference them. This deficiency allows an attacker to construct malicious svg content that triggers the invalid memory access pattern. The segmentation fault that results from this operation causes the application to crash immediately, leading to a denial of service condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, though the more precise manifestation involves invalid memory address dereference patterns that fall under CWE-125. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with memory corruption issues that can potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks if additional exploitation vectors are present.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-45267 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass broader system reliability concerns and potential service disruption. Organizations that depend on gpac for multimedia content processing, video streaming services, or digital asset management platforms may experience significant downtime when this vulnerability is exploited. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors including web-based content delivery, file uploads, or network-based data processing scenarios where svg content is parsed. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability represents a critical weakness that can be exploited by threat actors to disrupt services without requiring elevated privileges. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where automated content processing systems are prevalent, as these systems may be continuously exposed to potentially malicious svg content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-45267 should prioritize immediate patching of affected gpac installations to version 1.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary code modifications to address the memory access validation issues. System administrators should implement comprehensive input validation controls that filter or sanitize svg content before processing, particularly when dealing with user-generated or externally sourced content. Network segmentation and access controls should be strengthened to limit exposure of gpac-dependent services to untrusted networks or users. Security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual application crash patterns or segmentation fault occurrences that may indicate exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework methodology, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving denial of service and application exploitation, specifically targeting the application layer of the attack chain. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and sandboxing mechanisms to contain potential exploitation attempts and prevent full system compromise. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and comprehensive testing of multimedia processing components to prevent similar memory safety issues from affecting operational environments.