MPlayer and VLC media player affected by critical flaw CVE-2018-4013

Cisco Talos expert discovered a code execution vulnerability (CVE-2018-4013) that has been identified in Live Networks LIVE555 streaming media RTSPServer. Lilith Wyatt, a security researcher at Cisco Talos, has discovered a critical remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2018-4013) in the LIVE555 media streaming library that is used by popular media players, including VLC and MPlayer. LIVE555 […]

October 22, 2018

Cisco Talos expert discovered a code execution vulnerability (CVE-2018-4013) that has been identified in Live Networks LIVE555 streaming media RTSPServer.

Lilith Wyatt, a security researcher at Cisco Talos, has discovered a critical remote code execution vulnerability (CVE-2018-4013) in the LIVE555 media streaming library that is used by popular media players, including VLC and MPlayer.

LIVE555 Streaming Media is a set of open-source C++ libraries maintained by Live Networks Inc. for multimedia streaming, it supports open standards such as RTP/RTCP and RTSP for streaming.

LIVE555 Streaming Media is able to process video RTP payload formats such as H.264, H.265, MPEG, VP8, and DV, and audio RTP payload formats such as MPEG, AAC, AMR, AC-3 and Vorbis.

An attacker can exploit the vulnerability by sending a specially crafted packet containing multiple “Accept:” or “x-sessioncookie” strings that triggers a stack-based buffer overflow, resulting in code execution.

The vulnerability affects the HTTP packet parsing functionality that analyzes HTTP headers for RTSP tunneling over HTTP.

“An exploitable code execution vulnerability exists in the HTTP packet-parsing functionality of the LIVE555 RTSP server library. A specially crafted packet can cause a stack-based buffer overflow, resulting in code execution. An attacker can send a packet to trigger this vulnerability.” reads the advisory published by Talos.

The CVE-2018-4013 flaw potentially exposes millions of users of media players to cyber attacks.

The flaw affects Live Networks LIVE555 Media Server, version 0.92 and likely the earlier version of the product, a security update has already been issued to address the vulnerability.

Users of vulnerable media players are recommended to update their installs to the latest version.

Experts released the following SNORT rules to detect attempts to exploit these vulnerabilities: