Overview
A critical buffer overflow vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-65404, has been discovered in Live555 Streaming Media version 2018.09.02. This flaw resides within the getSideInfo2() function and can be exploited by attackers to trigger a Denial of Service (DoS) condition by sending a maliciously crafted MP3 stream to a vulnerable server. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the vulnerability, its potential impact, and recommended mitigation steps.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within the getSideInfo2() function when processing MP3 streams. A specially crafted MP3 stream can cause the function to write beyond the allocated buffer, leading to a buffer overflow. This overflow can corrupt memory and ultimately cause the Live555 application to crash, resulting in a Denial of Service.
The specific code area vulnerable is within the parsing logic of the MP3 stream’s side information. By manipulating the size and content of this side information, an attacker can trigger the overflow.
CVSS Analysis
(Currently, no CVSS score is available for CVE-2025-65404. This section will be updated when the information becomes available.)
Given the potential for remote exploitation and the resulting Denial of Service, a CVSS score is expected to be in the Medium to High range, depending on the ease of exploitation and the impact on system availability. The attack vector would likely be “Network” and the attack complexity would likely be “Low to Medium”.
Possible Impact
Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-65404 can have the following consequences:
- Denial of Service (DoS): The primary impact is a crash of the Live555 streaming server, preventing legitimate users from accessing the streamed content.
- Potential for Remote Code Execution (RCE): While a DoS is the immediate consequence, buffer overflows can, in some circumstances, be leveraged for Remote Code Execution (RCE). The likelihood of RCE depends on the system architecture, memory layout, and other factors. Further analysis is needed to determine if RCE is achievable.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The following mitigation steps are recommended to address CVE-2025-65404:
- Upgrade Live555: Upgrade to a patched version of Live555 Streaming Media as soon as it becomes available. Check the official Live555 website or the software vendor’s website for updates.
- Input Validation: Implement strict input validation on MP3 streams before processing them with Live555. This can help prevent malicious streams from reaching the vulnerable
getSideInfo2()function. - Network Segmentation: Isolate the Live555 server on a separate network segment to limit the impact of a successful attack.
- Web Application Firewall (WAF): If Live555 is used in conjunction with a web application, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) can be configured to detect and block malicious MP3 streams.
References
Live555 Repository on GitHub
Shimo Documentation (Potentially Related Analysis)
