CVE-2006-4024 in Festalon
Summary
by MITRE
The FESTAHES_Load function in pce/hes.c in Festalon 0.5.0 through 0.5.5 allows user-assisted attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a negative LoadAddr value in a HES file, which is used as an offset in a memcpy operation and leads to a buffer underflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-4024 resides within the Festalon media player software version 0.5.0 through 0.5.5, specifically within the FESTAHES_Load function located in the pce/hes.c source file. This flaw represents a classic buffer underflow condition that can be exploited through malformed HES (HES file format) input files. The vulnerability manifests when a user-provided HES file contains a negative LoadAddr value, which serves as a critical parameter in memory operations within the affected software. The improper validation of this LoadAddr parameter creates a dangerous scenario where maliciously crafted input can manipulate memory access patterns.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific memory operation pattern involving the memcpy function. When the negative LoadAddr value is processed, it is used as an offset parameter in the memcpy operation, which fundamentally alters the memory access behavior. This creates a buffer underflow condition where the memory copy operation attempts to read from or write to memory locations that fall outside the bounds of the allocated buffer space. The underlying issue stems from the lack of proper input validation and boundary checking for the LoadAddr parameter, allowing attackers to manipulate the offset calculation in a way that bypasses normal memory protection mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling arbitrary code execution. While the primary effect is a crash leading to application instability and service disruption, the buffer underflow condition creates opportunities for more sophisticated exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage the memory corruption to overwrite critical program structures or inject malicious code into the execution flow. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Festalon by compromising its ability to safely process media files, potentially allowing unauthorized access to system resources or complete system compromise depending on the execution environment and privilege levels.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-121, which describes the condition of stack-based buffer overflow, and also aligns with CWE-125, representing out-of-bounds read conditions. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this issue under T1059, specifically the execution of malicious code through application input manipulation, and potentially T1499 for the denial of service impact. The exploitation pathway demonstrates a clear privilege escalation potential through user-assisted attacks, where an attacker must convince a victim to open a maliciously crafted HES file, making this a particularly concerning vulnerability in environments where users may encounter untrusted media content. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing comprehensive input validation mechanisms within the Festalon software, specifically by adding boundary checks for the LoadAddr parameter before any memory operations are performed. The software should validate that LoadAddr values fall within acceptable ranges and reject any input that would result in negative offsets or values that exceed buffer boundaries. Additionally, modern memory protection techniques such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and heap metadata protection should be implemented to reduce the effectiveness of exploitation attempts. Regular security updates and patches should be deployed to affected systems, and users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted media files. The vulnerability also underscores the necessity of employing static and dynamic analysis tools during software development to identify similar patterns that could lead to buffer underflow conditions in other parts of the codebase.