CVE-2001-1230 in Icecast
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflows in Icecast before 1.3.10 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2001-1230 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Icecast media streaming server versions prior to 1.3.10. This vulnerability resides within the server's handling of incoming data streams and authentication requests, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the software through carefully crafted malicious input. The flaw manifests when the server processes certain HTTP headers or authentication parameters without proper bounds checking, allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations in the application's runtime environment. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution and T1499 for network denial of service attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the processing of HTTP requests sent to the Icecast server, particularly when handling authentication headers or streaming metadata. When an attacker sends a malformed request containing excessively long strings in specific header fields, the server's insufficient input validation causes memory corruption. The buffer overflow can result in the overwrite of return addresses on the stack, enabling attackers to redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the buffer. This allows for arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Icecast service account, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited remotely without authentication, making it an attractive target for automated attack tools and malicious actors seeking to gain unauthorized access to streaming servers.
The operational impact of CVE-2001-1230 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Organizations running vulnerable Icecast servers face significant risk of unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and potential use as a launch point for further attacks within their network infrastructure. The vulnerability affects media streaming services, radio stations, and any organization relying on Icecast for audio or video content distribution. Attackers can leverage this flaw to crash the streaming service, making it unavailable to legitimate users, or to execute malicious payloads that could establish persistent backdoors, steal sensitive information, or use the compromised server for further reconnaissance activities. The remote exploit capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the server or network to carry out successful attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2001-1230 primarily focus on immediate software updates and network-level protections. Organizations must upgrade to Icecast version 1.3.10 or later, which includes proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms that prevent the buffer overflow conditions. Network administrators should implement firewall rules to restrict access to Icecast ports and consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include running the Icecast service with minimal privileges, implementing proper input sanitization at network boundaries, and conducting regular security assessments of streaming infrastructure. The vulnerability serves as a classic example of why input validation and secure coding practices are essential in network services, and it demonstrates the critical importance of keeping software components updated to address known security flaws. Organizations should also consider implementing application-level firewalls and monitoring solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this and similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities.