CVE-2021-46044 in GPAC
Summary
by MITRE • 01/07/2022
A Pointer Dereference Vulnerabilty exists in GPAC 1.0.1via ShiftMetaOffset.isra, which causes a Denial of Service (context-dependent).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/09/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-46044 represents a critical pointer dereference flaw within the GPAC multimedia framework version 1.0.1. This issue manifests specifically within the ShiftMetaOffset.isra function, where improper memory handling leads to a denial of service condition that can be triggered by context-dependent inputs. The GPAC library serves as a comprehensive multimedia framework used for handling various audio and video formats, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for systems that rely on proper media processing capabilities. The pointer dereference occurs when the system attempts to access memory locations that have not been properly validated or initialized, creating a potential pathway for system instability and service interruption.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-476, which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions that can lead to application crashes or system instability. When the ShiftMetaOffset.isra function processes certain metadata structures during media file parsing, it fails to adequately validate pointer references before attempting to dereference them. This flaw allows attackers to craft malicious media files or manipulate existing content in ways that trigger the vulnerable code path, resulting in unexpected program termination or system resource exhaustion. The context-dependent nature of the vulnerability suggests that specific conditions must be met for exploitation to occur, potentially requiring particular file formats, metadata structures, or processing sequences to be present.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for systems utilizing GPAC for media processing, including content delivery networks, multimedia applications, and digital asset management platforms. The denial of service condition can disrupt legitimate user access to media content, potentially affecting streaming services, media processing pipelines, and content distribution systems. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by uploading or transmitting specially crafted media files that, when processed by the affected GPAC library, cause the target system to crash or become unresponsive. The impact extends beyond simple service interruption as it can potentially be leveraged in broader attack scenarios where system availability is a primary concern, particularly in environments where continuous media processing is critical for business operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-46044 should prioritize immediate patching of affected GPAC installations to version 1.0.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the pointer dereference issue. Organizations should implement input validation measures to filter potentially malicious media files before processing, particularly focusing on metadata structures that could trigger the vulnerable code path. Network segmentation and access controls can help limit the impact of potential exploitation attempts, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual processing patterns or service interruptions that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for media processing tasks to contain potential impacts if exploitation occurs, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for process injection and T1499 for network denial of service. Additionally, regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify other potential pointer dereference issues within the multimedia processing stack, ensuring comprehensive protection against similar classes of vulnerabilities that could compromise system availability and integrity.