Out-of-Bounds Read Vulnerability in GStreamer gst-plugins-base Package
Summary
ALPINE-CVE-2021-3522: GStreamer before 1.18.4 may perform an out-of-bounds read when handling certain ID3v2 tags. Affects gst-plugins-base versions < 1.18.4-r0. Fixed in 1.18.4-r0. How to fix ↓
Check if this vulnerability affects your application
Upload a manifest or SBOM and we'll show whether you're affected, plus every other risky package in the same scan.
No signup required · Results in about 60 seconds
Background
GStreamer is a powerful multimedia framework that enables the construction of various media-handling components, including audio and video playback, streaming, and editing. The gst-plugins-base package provides a set of essential plugins for GStreamer, facilitating the handling of various media formats. However, certain versions of this package are vulnerable to an out-of-bounds read issue when processing specific ID3v2 tags, which could lead to unexpected behavior or crashes.
Vulnerability Detail
The vulnerability identified as ALPINE-CVE-2021-3522 affects GStreamer versions prior to 1.18.4. It arises from improper handling of ID3v2 tags, which may result in an out-of-bounds read. This flaw can be exploited by attackers to cause application crashes or potentially execute arbitrary code, thereby compromising the integrity and availability of the affected systems. The vulnerability has a CVSS score of 5.5, indicating a moderate severity level.
How To Fix
Minimum fixed version
1.18.4-r0
This is the first release that contains the fix.
sudo apk add --upgrade gst-plugins-baseTip — Not sure which version your app runs? Vulert can match this fix to it. Scan free →
Workaround
If you are unable to update the package immediately, consider disabling the processing of ID3v2 tags in your application as a temporary workaround. This can help prevent the exploitation of the vulnerability until a proper update can be applied.
Conclusion
The out-of-bounds read vulnerability in the GStreamer gst-plugins-base package poses a significant risk to applications that handle ID3v2 tags. It is crucial to update to the patched version 1.18.4-r0 or later to mitigate this risk. Users are encouraged to monitor their applications for vulnerabilities using tools like Vulert.
See every vulnerability recorded for gst-plugins-base →
FAQ
An out-of-bounds read vulnerability occurs when a program reads data outside the allocated memory buffer, which can lead to unpredictable behavior, crashes, or security breaches.
You can use the Vulert platform to monitor and alert for open-source vulnerabilities in your software. Simply upload your manifest file, such as package-lock.json, to check for vulnerabilities.
Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to application crashes, unexpected behavior, or even remote code execution, compromising the security and stability of affected systems.
Yes, temporarily disabling the processing of ID3v2 tags can serve as a workaround until you can apply the necessary updates.
The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 5.5, indicating a moderate level of severity.
References
Related vulnerabilities
Recent vulnerabilities recorded for gst-plugins-base.
