CVE-2006-3879 in mikmod
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the loadChunk function in loaders/load_gt2.c in libmikmod in Mikmod Sound System 3.2.2 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a GRAOUMF TRACKER (GT2) module file with a large (0xffffffff) comment length value in an XCOM chunk.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3879 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Mikmod Sound System library version 3.2.2, specifically affecting the loadChunk function in the loaders/load_gt2.c module. This issue manifests when processing GRAOUMF TRACKER (GT2) module files, where an attacker can craft malicious files containing a comment length value of 0xffffffff, which translates to the maximum unsigned 32-bit integer value. The flaw occurs during the parsing of XCOM chunks within GT2 files, creating a scenario where the system attempts to allocate memory based on an inflated integer value that exceeds normal processing parameters.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the audio file parsing pipeline. When the loadChunk function encounters the malicious comment length value of 0xffffffff, the integer overflow causes the system to miscalculate memory allocation requirements, potentially leading to memory corruption or allocation failures. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can result in memory allocation issues and subsequent system instability. The flaw demonstrates poor bounds checking and arithmetic overflow handling within the audio library's file processing logic, where unsigned 32-bit integers are not properly validated before being used in memory allocation calculations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can be exploited remotely through malicious GT2 module files delivered via various attack vectors including email attachments, file sharing platforms, or web-based audio content. When a vulnerable application processes such a crafted file, the system may experience crashes, memory corruption, or complete application termination, effectively preventing legitimate audio playback functionality. This represents a significant risk in multimedia applications, media players, or any software that relies on Mikmod for audio module processing, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted audio content from unknown sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Mikmod installations to version 3.2.3 or later, which includes proper integer overflow protection and input validation for comment length fields. System administrators should implement strict file validation protocols, particularly for audio files from untrusted sources, and consider deploying sandboxing techniques to isolate audio processing components. Additionally, network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for suspicious file patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which covers legitimate program execution, as attackers leverage the legitimate audio processing functionality to achieve their malicious objectives. Organizations should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable audio processing applications and ensure all third-party multimedia libraries are kept current with security patches.