CVE-2006-4192 in Tracker
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple buffer overflows in MODPlug Tracker (OpenMPT) 1.17.02.43 and earlier and libmodplug 0.8 and earlier, as used in GStreamer and possibly other products, allow user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via (1) long strings in ITP files used by the CSoundFile::ReadITProject function in soundlib/Load_it.cpp and (2) crafted modules used by the CSoundFile::ReadSample function in soundlib/Sndfile.cpp, as demonstrated by crafted AMF files.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2019
The vulnerability CVE-2006-4192 represents a critical security flaw affecting MODPlug Tracker (OpenMPT) versions 1.17.02.43 and earlier, along with libmodplug versions 0.8 and earlier. This issue manifests as multiple buffer overflows that can be exploited by remote attackers through user-assisted means, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on affected systems. The vulnerability specifically targets the sound library components used by various multimedia applications including GStreamer, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a widely used audio processing framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within two distinct functions of the affected software libraries. The first overflow occurs in the CSoundFile::ReadITProject function located in soundlib/Load_it.cpp, where long strings in ITP files trigger buffer overflows during parsing operations. The second vulnerability exists in the CSoundFile::ReadSample function found in soundlib/Sndfile.cpp, which processes crafted modules and can be exploited through specially constructed AMF files. Both functions fail to properly validate input lengths before copying data into fixed-size buffers, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite adjacent memory regions with malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple local privilege escalation as it enables remote code execution through carefully crafted audio module files. Attackers can leverage these buffer overflows to inject and execute arbitrary code on systems running vulnerable versions of MODPlug Tracker or applications that utilize the affected libmodplug library. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that victims must open or process the malicious files, typically through multimedia applications that depend on these libraries, making social engineering and targeted attacks particularly effective. This vulnerability affects systems running various versions of Windows and Unix-like operating systems where these audio libraries are deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2006-4192 require immediate patching of affected software versions to address the buffer overflow conditions in both the ReadITProject and ReadSample functions. System administrators should prioritize updating MODPlug Tracker to versions beyond 1.17.02.43 and libmodplug to versions 0.8.1 or later, where the buffer overflow conditions have been resolved. Additionally, implementing file validation mechanisms and restricting user access to potentially malicious audio files can help reduce exposure. Network-based mitigations should include filtering of suspicious file types at network boundaries and implementing sandboxing techniques for audio file processing. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems utilizing affected libraries and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent exploitation attempts.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of unsafe string handling in multimedia processing libraries. The attack pattern follows techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable attackers to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation in multimedia libraries and highlights how seemingly benign audio file formats can become attack vectors when processing functions lack adequate bounds checking. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader security hygiene practices, particularly in environments where multimedia file processing is common and where legacy software versions may persist due to compatibility requirements.