Learn about CVE-2021-21856, a high-severity vulnerability in GPAC Project Advanced Content library v1.0.1 that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. Find out the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps.
Multiple exploitable integer overflow vulnerabilities exist within the MPEG-4 decoding functionality of the GPAC Project on Advanced Content library v1.0.1. These vulnerabilities could lead to heap-based buffer overflow and memory corruption when processing specially crafted MPEG-4 inputs. An attacker could exploit this issue by convincing a user to open a video file that triggers the vulnerable code.
Understanding CVE-2021-21856
This section will cover the essential details regarding the CVE-2021-21856 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-21856?
The CVE-2021-21856 vulnerability involves integer overflow vulnerabilities present in the MPEG-4 decoding feature of the GPAC Project Advanced Content library v1.0.1. These vulnerabilities can be exploited by processing malicious MPEG-4 inputs to trigger a heap-based buffer overflow.
The Impact of CVE-2021-21856
The impact of CVE-2021-21856 is rated with a CVSS base score of 8.8, indicating a high severity level. The vulnerability can result in memory corruption and potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code through the exploitation of the heap-based buffer overflow.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-21856
This section will delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2021-21856.
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability stems from unchecked addition arithmetic during the processing of MPEG-4 inputs, leading to an integer overflow that results in a heap-based buffer overflow.
Affected Systems and Versions
The affected system is the GPAC Project Advanced Content library v1.0.1. Specifically, systems running versions like 'GPAC Project Advanced Content commit a8a8d412dabcb129e695c3e7d861fcc81f608304' are susceptible to exploitation.
Exploitation Mechanism
To exploit CVE-2021-21856, an attacker can craft a malicious MPEG-4 input and trick a user into opening the video file. This action triggers the vulnerable code path, leading to memory corruption.
Mitigation and Prevention
This section will provide insights into mitigating the risks associated with CVE-2021-21856.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users and administrators should apply security patches released by the vendor promptly to address the CVE-2021-21856 vulnerability. It is crucial to update affected systems to prevent potential exploitation by threat actors.
Long-Term Security Practices
It is advisable to maintain good security hygiene by regularly updating software and implementing security best practices to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation of vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-21856.
Patching and Updates
Vendor-supplied patches should be tested and applied as soon as they are available to ensure that systems are protected against potential attacks leveraging CVE-2021-21856.