CVE-2007-1544 in Network Audio System
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the ProcAuWriteElement function in server/dia/audispatch.c in Network Audio System (NAS) before 1.8a SVN 237 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a large max_samples value.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1544 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Network Audio System NAS software ecosystem. This issue resides in the ProcAuWriteElement function located in the server/dia/audispatch.c source file, specifically affecting NAS versions prior to 1.8a SVN 237. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes audio data with an excessively large max_samples parameter, creating a condition where integer arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for the data type involved. This fundamental flaw creates a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate system behavior through carefully crafted audio requests that exploit the overflow condition.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic integer overflow scenario that can lead to memory corruption and system instability. When the max_samples value exceeds the bounds of the integer data type used to process audio samples, the overflow causes unexpected behavior in memory allocation and data handling routines. The vulnerability specifically affects the audio dispatch subsystem of NAS, which is responsible for managing audio data flow between client applications and the audio server. The integer overflow occurs during the calculation of buffer sizes or memory allocation requirements for audio sample processing, where the large input value causes the arithmetic to wrap around to a much smaller value or zero, leading to inadequate memory allocation or buffer overflows.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to systems utilizing NAS for audio services, as it can be exploited to trigger system crashes and potentially achieve remote code execution. The denial of service impact is immediate and severe, as attackers can cause audio servers to crash repeatedly, disrupting audio services for legitimate users. The potential for arbitrary code execution adds an additional layer of risk, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems. This vulnerability affects the availability and integrity of audio services, potentially compromising the broader system security posture, particularly in environments where NAS serves as a critical component of audio infrastructure.
The security implications of CVE-2007-1544 align with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1499.1 for denial of service attacks. Organizations implementing NAS services should prioritize immediate patching to version 1.8a SVN 237 or later, as this represents the first fix addressing the integer overflow condition. Mitigation strategies should include input validation controls that enforce reasonable limits on max_samples parameters, implementing proper bounds checking in audio processing routines, and deploying network monitoring to detect anomalous audio request patterns. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation to limit exposure of NAS services and establish logging controls to track audio processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper integer handling in audio processing systems and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of multimedia subsystems.