CVE-2023-40474: GStreamer MXF File Parsing Integer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability Explored

Introduction:
A newly discovered security vulnerability, dubbed CVE-2023-40474, affects GStreamer, a widely-used multimedia engine for Linux. In this post, we will dive into the details of this vulnerability, explore how it can be exploited, and provide necessary references for further research. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of GStreamer, potentially putting users at risk.

Background

GStreamer is an open-source multimedia processing library commonly used in Linux systems for a variety of applications, such as video editing and streaming. GStreamer is known for its powerful and flexible architecture, which allows for seamless handling of various multimedia formats.

This particular vulnerability affects the MXF format, short for Material eXchange Format, a container format primarily used in professional video and audio production. The CVE-2023-40474 vulnerability is due to a flaw in the parsing of MXF video files, which can lead to remote code execution.

Exploit Details

The vulnerability stems from GStreamer's failure to adequately validate user-supplied data when parsing MXF files. This lack of validation can result in an integer overflow, which occurs when an arithmetic operation exceeds the maximum value of the integer type used, causing the value to wrap around.

Here's a code snippet demonstrating the integer overflow

// Assuming an integer overflow vulnerability in the following function
// size and count are user-supplied values
unsigned int allocate_buffer(unsigned int size, unsigned int count){
    unsigned int total_size = size * count;
    unsigned char* buffer = (unsigned char*)malloc(total_size);
    return buffer;
}

In the example above, if the size and count variables are sufficiently large, their product might result in an integer overflow. This potentially leads to the total_size variable being smaller than expected, causing the malloc function to allocate a smaller buffer than required. Attackers can then exploit this discrepancy to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process.

Attack Vectors

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to interact with the affected GStreamer library. The specific attack vector, however, may vary depending on the implementation. For instance, an attacker could create a malicious MXF video file containing crafted data designed to trigger the integer overflow vulnerability.

Mitigation and References

The vulnerability was initially discovered and reported as ZDI-CAN-21660. A patch is now available to fix the vulnerability. Users are advised to update their GStreamer libraries to the latest version to protect against this exploit.

For more information on the CVE-2023-40474 vulnerability and its impact, refer to the following resources:

1. Official CVE Entry
2. GStreamer Security Advisory
3. ZDI-CAN-21660 Original Advisory

Conclusion

The CVE-2023-40474 GStreamer MXF File Parsing Integer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability is a serious security issue that needs to be addressed promptly. By staying informed and taking appropriate action to update the affected libraries, users can protect their systems from potential exploits.

Timeline

Published on: 05/03/2024 03:15:19 UTC
Last modified on: 06/05/2024 20:38:12 UTC