CVE-2022-43241 in Libde265
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2022
Libde265 v1.0.8 was discovered to contain an unknown crash via ff_hevc_put_hevc_qpel_v_3_8_sse in sse-motion.cc. This vulnerability allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) via a crafted video file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-43241 affects Libde265 version 1.0.8, a widely used open-source library for decoding h.265/HEVC video streams. This library serves as a critical component in numerous media processing applications, streaming platforms, and video playback systems across various operating systems and devices. The flaw manifests within the ff_hevc_put_hevc_qpel_v_3_8_sse function located in the sse-motion.cc source file, representing a significant security concern due to the library's pervasive use in video processing pipelines. The vulnerability specifically targets the motion compensation algorithms used in HEVC decoding, which are fundamental to video frame reconstruction and playback functionality.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the motion vector processing routines of the HEVC decoder. When processing maliciously crafted video files containing specially constructed motion vectors, the function fails to properly handle edge cases and invalid data ranges, leading to memory corruption and subsequent application crashes. This particular code path utilizes SSE (Streaming SIMD Extensions) optimizations for performance, but the optimization logic does not adequately protect against malformed input data that could cause buffer overflows or invalid memory access patterns. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient bounds checking and input sanitization, where the decoder fails to validate the integrity of motion vector parameters before processing them through the optimized motion compensation functions.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute successful Denial of Service attacks against systems utilizing the affected Libde265 library. The attack requires only the delivery of a specially crafted video file that triggers the vulnerable code path during video decoding operations. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including web-based video streaming, email attachments, or file sharing platforms. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially affect entire video processing pipelines, media servers, and content delivery networks that rely on this library for video decoding functionality. Organizations using affected software may experience service disruptions, increased resource consumption due to crash recovery mechanisms, and potential business continuity issues.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities, as the improper handling of motion vector data can lead to memory corruption. Additionally, this flaw maps to ATT&CK technique T1499.001, which involves network denial of service attacks, and T1059.007, covering scripting languages and command execution, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to disrupt services through automated exploitation. The security implications extend to supply chain attacks where vulnerable applications could be compromised through third-party libraries, potentially affecting downstream systems and organizations that depend on secure video processing capabilities. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of the Libde265 library to version 1.0.9 or later, implementation of input validation for video files in processing pipelines, and deployment of network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for video processing tasks and establishing incident response procedures to address potential exploitation of this vulnerability in their environments.