CVE-2003-1174 in SHOUTcast Server
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in NullSoft Shoutcast Server 1.9.2 allows local users to cause a denial of service via (1) icy-name followed by a long server name or (2) icy-url followed by a long URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2003-1174 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the NullSoft Shoutcast Server version 1.9.2 that fundamentally compromises system stability and availability. This issue arises from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the server's handling of specific HTTP header parameters, creating a pathway for malicious exploitation that can result in complete service disruption. The vulnerability specifically targets the icy-name and icy-url header fields that are commonly used in internet radio streaming protocols to identify server names and associated web addresses respectively.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from the server's failure to properly bounds-check incoming data when processing the icy-name and icy-url parameters. When a local attacker crafts specially formatted requests containing excessively long strings in either of these header fields, the server's memory management routines become overwhelmed as they attempt to store the malformed input beyond allocated buffer boundaries. This memory corruption directly leads to program termination and system instability, effectively creating a denial of service condition that prevents legitimate users from accessing the streaming service. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and does not require network connectivity to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through local system access or network-based attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on Shoutcast servers for audio streaming services, radio broadcasting, or media distribution platforms. The denial of service impact can result in complete service unavailability, potentially affecting thousands of concurrent listeners who depend on uninterrupted streaming access. The local exploitation requirement means that even if the server is not directly exposed to external networks, internal threats or compromised user accounts can still trigger the vulnerability. This makes the attack surface more manageable from an external standpoint but increases the risk from insider threats or privilege escalation scenarios. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of implementing robust input validation and memory management controls within streaming and media server applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching and implementation of defensive programming measures. Organizations must prioritize updating to patched versions of the NullSoft Shoutcast Server software that address the buffer overflow conditions in the icy-name and icy-url handling routines. Additionally, implementing input length restrictions and comprehensive validation for all HTTP header parameters can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Network segmentation and access controls should be employed to limit local system access to only authorized personnel, reducing the potential attack surface for local exploitation. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual header parameter patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation of similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to system instability and service disruption. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a denial of service attack technique that leverages application layer vulnerabilities to compromise system availability. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect similar buffer overflow conditions in other streaming and media server applications to prevent similar incidents across their infrastructure.