CVE-2007-1543 in Network Audio System
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in the accept_att_local function in server/os/connection.c in Network Audio System (NAS) before 1.8a SVN 237 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long path slave name in a USL socket connection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2019
The Network Audio System nas server version 1.8a SVN 237 contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in the accept_att_local function located within server/os/connection.c. This flaw affects the audio system's handling of USL socket connections where a malicious remote attacker can exploit the vulnerability by providing an excessively long path slave name. The vulnerability represents a critical security weakness that could allow unauthorized code execution on systems running vulnerable NAS implementations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the accept_att_local function. When processing incoming USL socket connections, the system fails to validate the length of the path slave name parameter before copying it into a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic stack buffer overflow occurs because the function does not enforce maximum length constraints on the input data, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The flaw specifically manifests when the input exceeds the allocated buffer size, potentially corrupting return addresses and other critical stack data structures. According to CWE-121, this vulnerability maps directly to stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking permits buffer overflows to occur.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass potential system compromise and denial of service scenarios. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious code into the target system, potentially gaining elevated privileges or establishing persistent access. The vulnerability affects all NAS implementations prior to version 1.8a SVN 237, making it particularly concerning for organizations maintaining older audio server deployments. Systems utilizing NAS for audio streaming, broadcasting, or multimedia applications become vulnerable to exploitation, with potential cascading effects on network infrastructure and audio services. The attack vector requires only a network connection to the affected NAS service, making it accessible to attackers without physical access to target systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected NAS installations to version 1.8a SVN 237 or later. Organizations should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of NAS services to untrusted networks. Additional defensive measures include monitoring network traffic for suspicious USL socket connection patterns and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts. According to ATT&CK framework tactic TA0002, adversaries may use such vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and persistence, making proactive defense essential. System administrators should also consider implementing address space layout randomization and stack canaries to provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify other potential buffer overflow conditions within the NAS codebase and related audio system components.