CVE-2018-20659 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

CVE-2018-20659, identified in Bento4 version 1.5.1-627, involves excessive memory allocation in the AP4_StcoAtom class. This vulnerability affects the mp42hls application.

Understanding CVE-2018-20659

This CVE highlights a memory allocation issue in Bento4 version 1.5.1-627, specifically in the AP4_StcoAtom class.

What is CVE-2018-20659?

The problem arises from an attempt to allocate an excessive amount of memory when the AP4_StcoAtom class is called from AP4_AtomFactory::CreateAtomFromStream in Core/Ap4AtomFactory.cpp.

The Impact of CVE-2018-20659

The vulnerability can lead to potential memory exhaustion and system instability, particularly affecting the mp42hls application.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-20659

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue lies in the AP4_StcoAtom class in Core/Ap4StcoAtom.cpp, causing excessive memory allocation during specific function calls.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Version: 1.5.1-627 of Bento4
Systems running the mp42hls application

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by triggering the specific function call that leads to the excessive memory allocation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-20659 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or restrict access to the affected application or system
Monitor memory usage closely to detect any abnormal spikes

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and apply patches to address known vulnerabilities
Conduct security audits to identify and mitigate potential risks

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by the software vendor to fix the memory allocation issue