CVE-2006-3931 in midirecord
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the daemon function in midirecord.cc in Tuomas Airaksinen Midirecord 2.0 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a long command line argument (filename). NOTE: This may not be a vulnerability if Midirecord is not installed setuid.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/02/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3931 represents a classic buffer overflow condition that exists within the daemon function of Tuomas Airaksinen Midirecord version 2.0. This particular implementation flaw occurs in the midirecord.cc source file where insufficient input validation allows attackers to craft malicious command line arguments that exceed the allocated buffer space. The vulnerability specifically targets the filename parameter handling within the daemon function, creating a scenario where a local attacker can manipulate the program's execution flow through carefully constructed input data.
The technical exploitation of this buffer overflow vulnerability leverages the fundamental principle of memory corruption where user-supplied data exceeds the boundaries of a fixed-size buffer allocated for storage. When a local user provides an excessively long command line argument that serves as a filename parameter, the program fails to properly validate the input length before copying it into the vulnerable buffer. This overflow condition can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other critical program state information, potentially allowing an attacker to redirect program execution to malicious code. The vulnerability's classification as a local privilege escalation vector becomes particularly concerning when considering that Midirecord may be installed with setuid permissions, which would elevate the attack's impact from mere local code execution to potential system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant security implications for systems where Midirecord is deployed with elevated privileges. The local execution context means that any user with access to the system can potentially exploit this weakness, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments where privilege separation is not properly enforced. The attack requires only that the target system has Midirecord installed and potentially configured with setuid permissions, which would allow the attacker to gain elevated privileges through the buffer overflow exploitation. The vulnerability's impact is directly proportional to the privilege level of the Midirecord process, with setuid installations presenting the most severe risk as they could enable full system compromise.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate code-level fixes and broader system security measures. The most effective immediate solution involves implementing proper input validation and bounds checking within the daemon function to ensure that command line arguments cannot exceed the allocated buffer size. This approach aligns with common security practices and addresses the underlying CWE-121 buffer overflow condition that this vulnerability represents. Additionally, system administrators should verify whether Midirecord is actually installed with setuid permissions and consider removing these privileges if the application does not require elevated privileges for normal operation. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this vulnerability under privilege escalation techniques, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through buffer overflow exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing input sanitization measures and regular security audits to identify similar vulnerabilities in other system components, particularly in legacy software that may not have undergone modern security hardening practices.