CVE-2018-1999012 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis
Learn about CVE-2018-1999012, a critical vulnerability in FFmpeg allowing attackers to exhaust CPU and RAM resources by exploiting specially crafted PVA files. Find mitigation steps and update recommendations here.
FFmpeg before commit 9807d3976be0e92e4ece3b4b1701be894cd7c2e1 contains a CWE-835: Infinite loop vulnerability in the pva format demuxer. This vulnerability allows attackers to consume excessive CPU and RAM resources by exploiting specially crafted PVA files.
Understanding CVE-2018-1999012
FFmpeg was found to have a critical vulnerability that could lead to resource exhaustion when processing malicious PVA files.
What is CVE-2018-1999012?
CVE-2018-1999012 is a security vulnerability in FFmpeg that enables attackers to trigger an infinite loop, causing a significant drain on system resources.
The Impact of CVE-2018-1999012
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to consume excessive CPU and RAM resources, potentially leading to denial of service conditions.
- The vulnerability requires a specially crafted PVA file as input to trigger the exploit.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-1999012
FFmpeg's vulnerability details and affected systems.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability in FFmpeg before commit 9807d3976be0e92e4ece3b4b1701be894cd7c2e1 allows for an infinite loop in the pva format demuxer, leading to resource exhaustion.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: FFmpeg
- Vendor: N/A
- Versions affected: All versions before commit 9807d3976be0e92e4ece3b4b1701be894cd7c2e1
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can exploit the vulnerability by providing a specially crafted PVA file as input to trigger the infinite loop.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate and prevent exploitation of CVE-2018-1999012.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update FFmpeg to commit 9807d3976be0e92e4ece3b4b1701be894cd7c2e1 or later to patch the vulnerability.
- Avoid opening PVA files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and libraries to the latest versions to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement network and system monitoring to detect unusual resource consumption patterns.
Patching and Updates
- Apply security updates promptly to ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed.