CVE-2002-0547 in WinAmp
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the mini-browser for Winamp 2.79 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a long string in the title field of an ID3v2 tag.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-0547 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the mini-browser component of Winamp version 2.79 and earlier. This issue specifically targets the handling of ID3v2 metadata tags, which are commonly embedded within audio files to store information such as song titles, artist names, and album details. The vulnerability arises when the mini-browser processes these metadata fields, particularly the title field, without proper input validation or bounds checking. The flaw enables remote attackers to craft malicious audio files containing excessively long strings in the title field, which then triggers the buffer overflow condition during processing.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory buffers. The mini-browser component in Winamp fails to validate the length of strings extracted from ID3v2 tags before copying them into fixed-size memory buffers. This allows an attacker to overflow the buffer and potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, including return addresses on the stack. The vulnerability can be exploited remotely through malicious audio files distributed via various channels such as peer-to-peer networks, websites, or email attachments. When a user opens such a file in Winamp, the application crashes due to the memory corruption, resulting in a denial of service condition that effectively prevents normal operation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for widespread deployment. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Winamp, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond opening a malicious file, making it a prime candidate for automated exploitation. The vulnerability affects a wide range of users since Winamp was one of the most popular media players of its era, and the mini-browser component was frequently used to display information about audio files. This widespread adoption means that the potential impact of this vulnerability was significant, as it could affect millions of users who might unknowingly encounter malicious audio files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the affected Winamp versions, as well as implementing additional security measures such as input validation and sandboxing of media processing components. Users should avoid opening audio files from untrusted sources and ensure their media players are regularly updated with the latest security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper bounds checking and input validation in software development, particularly for components that process untrusted data from external sources. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based protections such as content filtering and intrusion detection systems to prevent the spread of malicious audio files containing this vulnerability. Additionally, the incident highlights the need for comprehensive security testing including fuzzing and boundary condition testing of all input processing components in multimedia applications. The vulnerability serves as a historical example of how seemingly innocuous metadata processing can become a significant security risk when proper memory safety measures are not implemented, and it underscores the importance of following secure coding practices that prevent buffer overflow conditions.