CVE-2022-27825 in libsapeextractor
Summary
by MITRE • 04/12/2022
Improper size check in sapefd_parse_meta_HEADER function of libsapeextractor library prior to SMR Apr-2022 Release 1 allows out of bounds read via a crafted media file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-27825 represents a critical security flaw within the libsapeextractor library, specifically affecting the sapefd_parse_meta_HEADER function. This issue manifests as an improper size check that enables an out-of-bounds read condition when processing crafted media files. The vulnerability was present in versions of the library prior to the SMR Apr-2022 Release 1, indicating that it was a known weakness that required remediation through a security maintenance release. The flaw occurs during the parsing of media file metadata, where the function fails to properly validate the size of expected data structures before attempting to read from memory locations that may extend beyond the allocated buffer boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious media file that triggers the improper size validation within the sapefd_parse_meta_HEADER function. When the library processes such a file, the lack of adequate bounds checking allows the parser to attempt reading memory beyond the intended data boundaries, potentially leading to information disclosure or system instability. This type of out-of-bounds read represents a classic memory safety vulnerability that can be leveraged by attackers to extract sensitive data from memory or cause denial of service conditions. The vulnerability falls under the category of buffer over-read conditions, which are commonly classified as CWE-129 or CWE-131 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, representing improper validation of the length of input data.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that rely on the libsapeextractor library for media file processing, particularly in environments where untrusted media content is handled. The attack surface expands to any application or service that utilizes this library for parsing media metadata, including multimedia applications, content management systems, and digital asset management platforms. The potential consequences include unauthorized data access, system compromise, or service disruption, depending on how the vulnerable system handles the memory access violation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through media file processing and could be exploited as part of broader attack chains targeting media processing applications.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including updating to the SMR Apr-2022 Release 1 or later versions of the libsapeextractor library that contain the patched implementation of the sapefd_parse_meta_HEADER function. System administrators should also consider implementing additional safeguards such as input validation for media files, sandboxing of media processing operations, and monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns. The fix typically involves adding proper size validation checks before any memory read operations, ensuring that all buffer access operations are bounded by the actual size of the input data. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all systems that may be impacted by this flaw and prioritize remediation efforts based on the criticality of the affected applications and the potential exposure to untrusted media content.