CVE-2005-2310 in WinAmp
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Winamp 5.03a, 5.09 and 5.091, and other versions before 5.094, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an MP3 file with a long ID3v2 tag such as (1) ARTIST or (2) TITLE.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2310 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw affecting Winamp media player versions 5.03a through 5.094, specifically within the handling of MP3 files containing excessively long ID3v2 tags. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the media player's parser, which fails to properly sanitize or limit the length of metadata fields during file processing. The vulnerability manifests when the application encounters MP3 files with oversized ID3v2 tags, particularly in the ARTIST or TITLE fields, creating conditions where memory allocation becomes insufficient to accommodate the malformed data. The flaw operates at the application layer, leveraging the standard MP3 file format's metadata structure to deliver malicious payloads through seemingly benign media files, making it particularly dangerous for remote exploitation scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The specific attack vector involves crafting MP3 files with ID3v2 tags exceeding normal length parameters, typically through manipulation of the ARTIST or TITLE fields to exceed buffer capacity. When Winamp processes these malicious files, the parser attempts to store the oversized tag data in fixed-size memory buffers, causing stack or heap corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical program memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which encompasses exploitation of software vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code, and T1059, involving the use of command and scripting interpreters for execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2005-2310 extends beyond simple remote code execution, as it enables attackers to potentially gain complete system control through carefully constructed malicious MP3 files. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Winamp versions, making it particularly dangerous given the software's widespread adoption across various platforms and user bases. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code with the privileges of the Winamp process, potentially leading to privilege escalation, system compromise, or deployment of additional malware. The remote nature of the attack means that victims need only play the malicious file to be exploited, making it an ideal vector for social engineering campaigns or automated exploitation through compromised web services. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no special privileges from the attacker, as the target system's own media player software becomes the attack vector, increasing the likelihood of successful compromise across diverse computing environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate software updates to Winamp version 5.094 or later, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in ID3v2 tag parsing. System administrators should implement comprehensive software update policies to ensure all instances of Winamp are upgraded to patched versions, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple users may be exposed to potentially malicious content. Network-level defenses should include content filtering mechanisms that scan MP3 files for suspicious ID3v2 tag structures, though this approach remains secondary to proper software patching. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of playing untrusted media files and encouraged to maintain current software versions. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in media processing applications, emphasizing that legacy software components often contain unpatched security flaws that can be exploited by modern attack vectors. Organizations should conduct regular vulnerability assessments of media processing software to identify and remediate similar buffer overflow conditions that may exist in other multimedia applications.