CVE-2018-12459 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

FFmpeg 4.0 may trigger an assertion violation due to an inconsistent bits-per-sample value, potentially leading to a denial of service.

Understanding CVE-2018-12459

This CVE involves a vulnerability in FFmpeg 4.0 that could be exploited to cause a denial of service by manipulating AVI files.

What is CVE-2018-12459?

The function ff_mpeg4_decode_picture_header in FFmpeg 4.0 may lead to an assertion violation due to an inconsistent bits-per-sample value. This vulnerability can be exploited by converting a specifically crafted AVI file to MPEG4, resulting in a denial of service.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12459

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to crash the application or system by causing an assertion violation, potentially leading to a denial of service.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12459

FFmpeg 4.0 is susceptible to a denial-of-service vulnerability due to an inconsistent bits-per-sample value in the ff_mpeg4_decode_picture_header function.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from an inconsistent bits-per-sample value in the ff_mpeg4_decode_picture_header function in libavcodec/mpeg4videodec.c in FFmpeg 4.0.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: FFmpeg 4.0
Vendor: N/A
Versions: N/A

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by converting a manipulated AVI file to MPEG4, triggering the assertion violation and leading to a denial of service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-12459, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update FFmpeg to the latest version.
Avoid opening or converting untrusted AVI files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and libraries.
Implement input validation to prevent malformed files from causing issues.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of patches and updates to mitigate known vulnerabilities.