CVE-2005-1847 in YAMT
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in YaMT before 0.5_2 allow attackers to execute arbitrary code via the (1) rename or (2) sort options.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-1847 affects YaMT, a multimedia application that was vulnerable to multiple buffer overflow conditions in versions prior to 0.5_2. These buffer overflows specifically occurred during the processing of the rename and sort options, creating exploitable conditions that could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the application's handling of user-supplied data during these specific operations.
The technical flaw manifests as classic stack-based buffer overflows that occur when the application processes user-provided arguments for the rename and sort functions. When an attacker supplies maliciously crafted input to either of these options, the application fails to properly validate the length of the input data before copying it into fixed-size buffers. This allows the attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially including return addresses or other critical control data structures. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a common class of memory corruption vulnerabilities that have been prevalent in multimedia and file manipulation applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to gain arbitrary code execution privileges on systems running vulnerable versions of YaMT. This could lead to complete system compromise, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. The remote exploitability of these buffer overflows means that attackers do not need local access to the system, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where multimedia applications may be exposed to untrusted input from remote sources. Attackers could potentially leverage these vulnerabilities in conjunction with other techniques to escalate privileges or move laterally within compromised networks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected systems to upgrade to YaMT version 0.5_2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer overflow conditions. System administrators should also implement input validation measures at network boundaries and consider deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in application development, particularly for functions that handle user-supplied data. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting the execution of multimedia applications in high-security environments where the risk of exploitation is elevated. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for regular security updates and the implementation of secure coding practices to prevent memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be exploited for remote code execution.
The exploitability of this vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers command and scripting interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised application. Additionally, the vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation, as the arbitrary code execution capability could be leveraged to gain elevated system privileges. Organizations should also consider implementing defense-in-depth strategies that include network segmentation, application hardening, and regular security assessments to address similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other multimedia applications and file processing utilities.