CVE-2006-3668 in DUMB
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the it_read_envelope function in Dynamic Universal Music Bibliotheque (DUMB) 0.9.3 and earlier and current CVS as of 20060716, including libdumb, allows user-assisted attackers to execute arbitrary code via a ".it" (Impulse Tracker) file with an envelope with a large number of nodes.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3668 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting the Dynamic Universal Music Bibliotheque (DUMB) multimedia library version 0.9.3 and earlier releases. This flaw resides within the it_read_envelope function which processes Impulse Tracker .it files, a widely used format for music composition and playback in various applications. The vulnerability manifests when the library attempts to parse envelope data structures within these music files, specifically when handling envelopes containing an excessive number of nodes. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the .it file format, specifically targeting the envelope section which defines how audio parameters change over time. When DUMB encounters an envelope with a large number of nodes, the it_read_envelope function fails to properly validate the node count against available heap memory allocation, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of software security and multimedia processing, where legitimate file parsing becomes a vector for arbitrary code execution. The attack requires user interaction as the malicious .it file must be loaded by an application using the vulnerable DUMB library, making it a user-assisted remote code execution vulnerability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous applications that utilize the DUMB library for audio playback, including music players, game engines, and multimedia applications. Attackers can craft malicious .it files that, when opened by vulnerable software, trigger the buffer overflow and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This presents a significant risk in environments where users might encounter untrusted music files, such as in online forums, file sharing networks, or multimedia applications that automatically process user-uploaded content. The vulnerability affects both desktop applications and embedded systems that rely on DUMB for audio processing, creating a broad attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-3668 require immediate software updates to versions of DUMB that have patched the buffer overflow issue, typically through proper bounds checking and memory allocation validation. System administrators should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all applications using the vulnerable DUMB library and ensure timely patching. Input validation measures should be implemented at application levels to sanitize .it file contents before processing, though this represents a secondary defense since the core issue lies within the library itself. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface by limiting which applications can process .it files. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands through the compromised application. Organizations should also consider implementing runtime protections such as stack canaries or address space layout randomization to make exploitation more difficult, though these defenses are secondary to proper code-level fixes in the vulnerable library.