CVE-2007-1492 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
winmm.dll in Microsoft Windows XP allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (infinite loop) via a large cch argument value to the mmioRead function, as demonstrated by a crafted WAV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1492 resides within the Windows multimedia subsystem, specifically in the winmm.dll library that is integral to Microsoft Windows XP operating systems. This flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests as an infinite loop during file processing operations, creating a remote denial of service scenario that can be triggered by maliciously crafted media files. The vulnerability affects the multimedia framework's ability to properly validate input parameters during file parsing operations, particularly when handling wave audio files through the mmioRead function interface.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits improper parameter validation within the winmm.dll library where the cch argument value is not adequately constrained during mmioRead function calls. When a maliciously crafted WAV file contains an excessively large cch argument value, the function enters an infinite loop during processing, consuming system resources and rendering the affected system unavailable for legitimate multimedia operations. This behavior stems from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms that should validate the argument ranges before proceeding with memory operations. The flaw operates at the application layer within the Windows multimedia subsystem and requires user interaction to trigger, as attackers must convince victims to open or process the malicious file through normal system operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant system stability issues for Windows XP users by causing indefinite system hang conditions that prevent normal multimedia functionality. The infinite loop consumes CPU cycles and memory resources, potentially leading to complete system unresponsiveness until manual intervention occurs through system restarts or forced shutdowns. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt multimedia services, create denial of service conditions for end users, and potentially exploit the system instability for further attacks. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as it affects the core multimedia framework functionality that many applications depend upon for audio processing.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of input bounds, and its relationship to ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including patching Windows XP systems with the appropriate Microsoft security updates, disabling unnecessary multimedia processing capabilities, and implementing file validation controls for audio content. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify anomalous multimedia file processing patterns and deploy sandboxing mechanisms for suspicious file handling operations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and parameter checking in system libraries, particularly those handling user-supplied data in multimedia processing contexts.