CVE-2017-16840 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2017-16840 affecting FFmpeg versions 3.0 and 3.4. Understand the denial of service vulnerability and how to mitigate the risk with patches and updates.
In FFmpeg versions 3.0 and 3.4, the VC-2 Video Compression encoder may be vulnerable to a denial of service attack due to an incorrect buffer padding issue. This vulnerability could potentially allow remote attackers to cause an out-of-bounds read, resulting in a denial of service.
Understanding CVE-2017-16840
This CVE identifies a vulnerability in the VC-2 Video Compression encoder within FFmpeg versions 3.0 and 3.4.
What is CVE-2017-16840?
The vulnerability in the VC-2 Video Compression encoder in FFmpeg 3.0 and 3.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service due to incorrect buffer padding for non-Haar wavelets.
The Impact of CVE-2017-16840
The vulnerability could lead to an out-of-bounds read, potentially resulting in a denial of service attack.
Technical Details of CVE-2017-16840
FFmpeg versions 3.0 and 3.4 are affected by this vulnerability.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability arises from an incorrect buffer padding issue for non-Haar wavelets in the files libavcodec/vc2enc.c and libavcodec/vc2enc_dwt.c.
Affected Systems and Versions
- FFmpeg version 3.0
- FFmpeg version 3.4
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability could be exploited by remote attackers to cause an out-of-bounds read, leading to a denial of service.
Mitigation and Prevention
It is crucial to take immediate steps to address and prevent the exploitation of this vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Apply patches provided by FFmpeg promptly.
- Monitor security advisories for updates and follow best security practices.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update FFmpeg to the latest version to mitigate known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to prevent unauthorized access.
Patching and Updates
Ensure that FFmpeg is regularly updated to the latest version to address security vulnerabilities.