CVE-2024-47615: GStreamer Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-47615 Overview

CVE-2024-47615 is a high-severity out-of-bounds write vulnerability discovered in GStreamer, a widely-used open-source multimedia framework for constructing graphs of media-handling components. The vulnerability exists in the gst_parse_vorbis_setup_packet function within vorbis_parse.c, where an integer size value is read from input files without proper validation, leading to memory corruption.

Critical Impact

An attacker can craft a malicious media file that triggers an out-of-bounds write of up to 380 bytes beyond the boundaries of the pad->vorbis_mode_sizes array, potentially leading to code execution or application crashes.

Affected Products

• GStreamer versions prior to 1.24.10
• Applications and systems using vulnerable GStreamer libraries for media processing
• Linux distributions shipping affected GStreamer packages (including Debian)

Discovery Timeline

• 2024-12-12 - CVE CVE-2024-47615 published to NVD
• 2026-03-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-47615

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). The flaw occurs in the Vorbis audio codec parsing functionality of GStreamer. When processing Vorbis setup packets, the code reads a size value directly from the input media file. This value is used to control iteration bounds in a for loop that writes to the pad->vorbis_mode_sizes array, which has a fixed size of 256 elements.

Without proper bounds checking, an attacker can supply a maliciously crafted media file with an oversized value, causing the loop to write beyond the array boundaries. The overflow can corrupt up to 380 bytes of adjacent memory, overwriting the entire pad structure with 0s and 1s, along with memory regions beyond it.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient input validation when parsing Vorbis setup packet data. The integer size parameter read from user-controlled input is not validated against the maximum array bounds before being used in memory write operations. This classic input validation flaw allows attackers to control the extent of memory corruption through specially crafted media files.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access, where an attacker must convince a user to open or process a malicious media file containing a crafted Vorbis audio stream. The attack does not require authentication or user interaction beyond opening the file. When a vulnerable GStreamer-based application processes the malicious file, the out-of-bounds write is triggered automatically during Vorbis codec initialization.

The vulnerability mechanism involves manipulating the size field in Vorbis setup packets to exceed the 256-element boundary of the pad->vorbis_mode_sizes array. When parsed by the gst_parse_vorbis_setup_packet function, the oversized value causes the for loop to iterate beyond array bounds, systematically overwriting memory with 0 and 1 values. For detailed technical analysis, refer to the GitHub Security Advisory GHSL-2024-115.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-47615

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes in GStreamer-based applications when processing media files
• Application memory corruption events or segmentation faults during Vorbis audio playback
• Unusual media files with malformed Vorbis setup packet headers
• System logs showing GStreamer process termination with memory-related errors

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for abnormal termination of GStreamer-based media applications
• Implement file integrity monitoring for media files in high-security environments
• Deploy endpoint detection solutions capable of identifying memory corruption exploitation attempts
• Use address sanitizer (ASan) during development to detect out-of-bounds memory access

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable crash reporting and analysis for media processing applications
• Monitor system logs for repeated GStreamer-related crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement network monitoring for suspicious media file downloads in enterprise environments
• Track GStreamer library versions across systems to ensure timely patching

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-47615

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade GStreamer to version 1.24.10 or later immediately
• Review and update all applications that bundle or depend on GStreamer libraries
• Consider restricting media file processing to trusted sources until patching is complete
• Apply vendor-provided security updates for Linux distributions (e.g., Debian)

Patch Information

The vulnerability has been fixed in GStreamer version 1.24.10. The official patch is available through the GitLab Merge Request 8038. Additional security information can be found in the GStreamer Security Advisory 2024-0026. Debian users should refer to the Debian LTS Announcement for distribution-specific updates.

Workarounds

• Restrict processing of untrusted media files on systems that cannot be immediately patched
• Implement application sandboxing to limit the impact of potential exploitation
• Use content filtering to block Vorbis-encoded files from untrusted sources temporarily
• Consider disabling Vorbis codec support if not required for business operations

# Check GStreamer version and update on Debian-based systems
gst-launch-1.0 --version
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade gstreamer1.0-plugins-base