CVE-2021-45767 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 01/14/2022
GPAC 1.1.0 was discovered to contain an invalid memory address dereference via the function lsr_read_id(). This vulnerability can lead to a Denial of Service (DoS).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/19/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-45767 affects GPAC version 1.1.0 and represents a critical memory safety issue that manifests through improper handling of memory addresses during file processing operations. This flaw exists within the lsr_read_id() function which is responsible for reading identification data from specific file formats. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-476 which denotes NULL pointer dereference, indicating that the application fails to properly validate memory references before attempting to access them. Such issues commonly arise when developers assume certain memory locations will contain valid data without proper validation checks, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit these weaknesses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs when the lsr_read_id() function processes malformed input files or encounters unexpected data structures within media files. When the function attempts to dereference a memory address that has not been properly initialized or has been set to NULL, the application experiences a segmentation fault leading to immediate termination. This behavior constitutes a classic denial of service condition where legitimate users cannot access the application's functionality due to the crash. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through simple file manipulation without requiring sophisticated attack vectors, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to systems that rely on GPAC for multimedia processing and streaming operations. Organizations using this software in content delivery networks, media servers, or playback applications face potential service interruptions that could impact user experience and business continuity. The DoS condition affects availability rather than confidentiality or integrity, meaning that while data remains protected, the service becomes inaccessible. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted files that trigger the memory dereference during normal processing operations, effectively rendering the affected systems unusable until restart or patching occurs.
Security practitioners should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of GPAC where available, implementing input validation controls, and deploying network segmentation to limit exposure. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network disruption and T1566.002 which addresses spearphishing with social engineering. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file processing patterns and implement automated patch management processes to ensure timely remediation. Additionally, developers should conduct thorough code reviews focusing on memory management practices and implement proper error handling mechanisms to prevent similar issues in future implementations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing libraries that handle untrusted data from external sources.