CVE-2004-0557 in Sound eXchange
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in the st_wavstartread function in wav.c for Sound eXchange (SoX) 12.17.2 through 12.17.4 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via certain WAV file header fields.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0557 represents a critical security flaw in the Sound eXchange (SoX) multimedia processing library affecting versions 12.17.2 through 12.17.4. This issue manifests as multiple buffer overflows within the st_wavstartread function located in the wav.c source file, creating a significant attack surface that enables remote code execution. The vulnerability specifically targets WAV file header parsing routines where insufficient input validation allows maliciously crafted header fields to trigger memory corruption conditions. These buffer overflows occur when the software attempts to process malformed WAV file structures without adequate bounds checking, potentially leading to stack corruption or heap memory overwrite scenarios that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized system control.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization within the WAV file format parser component of SoX. When the st_wavstartread function processes WAV header fields, it fails to properly validate the size and content of various header parameters including chunk sizes, format tags, and sample rate values. This lack of validation creates opportunities for attackers to craft malicious WAV files containing oversized or malformed header fields that exceed the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability operates under CWE-121, which categorizes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered remotely through file processing operations, making it exploitable via web-based attacks or file sharing scenarios where users might unknowingly process malicious audio files.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to systems utilizing SoX for audio processing, particularly those in server environments or applications that automatically process user-uploaded audio content. The remote code execution capability means that successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications that depend on SoX for audio manipulation, including multimedia processing servers, audio editing software, and content management systems. The attack surface extends beyond simple file processing to include any application that incorporates SoX's WAV file handling capabilities, making this a particularly concerning flaw for organizations maintaining multimedia processing infrastructure. Security researchers have classified this as a high-severity vulnerability due to its remote exploitability and the potential for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-0557 should prioritize immediate patching of affected SoX versions to the latest stable releases that contain fixed buffer validation routines. Organizations should implement strict file format validation and sanitization measures for all audio file processing workflows, particularly in environments where user-uploaded content is processed automatically. Network-level defenses including intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls should be configured to monitor for suspicious file processing patterns and malformed audio content. Additionally, system administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications and services that utilize vulnerable SoX versions, ensuring complete remediation across the entire infrastructure. The remediation process should include implementing proper input validation controls, deploying memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, and establishing robust file integrity checking procedures for audio content processing pipelines. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted audio processing operations and maintain regular security updates to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in other multimedia libraries.