CVE-2018-12460 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2018-12460, a vulnerability in FFmpeg 4.0's libavcodec component that can lead to a denial of service by mishandling AVI to MPEG4 conversion. Find out how to mitigate the risk and secure your systems.
FFmpeg 4.0's libavcodec component can lead to a NULL pointer dereference, causing a denial of service when converting a specially crafted AVI file to MPEG4 due to a misdetected studio profile.
Understanding CVE-2018-12460
In this CVE, a vulnerability in FFmpeg 4.0's libavcodec component can be exploited to trigger a denial of service by mishandling a specific AVI to MPEG4 conversion.
What is CVE-2018-12460?
This CVE involves a NULL pointer dereference issue in FFmpeg 4.0's libavcodec component when incorrectly identifying a studio profile during the conversion of a manipulated AVI file to MPEG4. The vulnerability can result in a denial of service.
The Impact of CVE-2018-12460
The vulnerability can be exploited to cause a denial of service, potentially disrupting services or applications relying on FFmpeg 4.0 for multimedia processing.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-12460
FFmpeg 4.0's libavcodec vulnerability in converting AVI to MPEG4 can be further understood through technical details.
Vulnerability Description
The issue arises from a NULL pointer dereference in the idctdsp.c and mpegvideo.c files of FFmpeg 4.0's libavcodec component, triggered by an incorrect studio profile detection during AVI to MPEG4 conversion.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: FFmpeg 4.0
- Vendor: N/A
- Version: N/A
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by crafting a specific AVI file that triggers the misidentification of the studio profile during conversion to MPEG4, leading to the NULL pointer dereference.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2018-12460 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update FFmpeg to the latest version to patch the vulnerability.
- Avoid processing untrusted AVI files with FFmpeg until the patch is applied.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update and patch software components to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network security measures to detect and prevent potential exploitation of vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates for FFmpeg to mitigate the risk of exploitation.