CVE-2007-1546 in Network Audio System
Summary
by MITRE
Array index error in Network Audio System (NAS) before 1.8a SVN 237 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via (1) large num_action values in the ProcAuSetElements function in server/dia/audispatch.c or (2) a large inputNum parameter to the compileInputs function in server/dia/auutil.c.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-1546 represents a critical array index error within the Network Audio System NAS software version 1.8a SVN 237 and earlier. This flaw exists in the server component of the NAS audio system and specifically affects the handling of audio processing operations within the dia directory of the server code. The vulnerability manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit improper bounds checking in audio processing functions, creating opportunities for remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against NAS servers. The affected code paths are located in server/dia/audispatch.c and server/dia/auutil.c, indicating the vulnerability is deeply embedded in the audio dispatch and utility processing modules of the system.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of user-supplied parameters within critical audio processing functions. When the ProcAuSetElements function in audispatch.c receives large num_action values, or when the compileInputs function in auutil.c processes a large inputNum parameter, the system fails to properly validate array bounds before accessing memory locations. This leads to buffer overflows or out-of-bounds memory access patterns that cause the NAS server process to terminate unexpectedly. The root cause aligns with CWE-129 Input Validation and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, representing a classic example of improper input validation leading to memory corruption. The vulnerability operates at the application level and requires no authentication to exploit, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise the availability of audio services in networked environments. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to crash NAS servers, causing complete denial of service for legitimate audio streaming and processing operations. This affects organizations relying on NAS for audio distribution, multimedia applications, and networked audio systems where continuous availability is critical. The vulnerability affects systems where NAS servers handle audio processing requests from multiple clients, making it particularly impactful in enterprise and broadcast environments. The crash occurs during audio element processing and input compilation, indicating that any application or user interacting with NAS audio services could trigger the vulnerability. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for network denial of service attacks and represents a significant threat to audio service availability.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-1546 require immediate patching of affected NAS installations to version 1.8a SVN 237 or later, which contains the necessary bounds checking fixes. Organizations should implement network segmentation to limit access to NAS servers and restrict the attack surface by disabling unnecessary audio services. Input validation should be enhanced at all levels of the application stack to prevent malformed parameters from reaching vulnerable functions. Monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of audio processing requests that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing proper error handling and graceful degradation mechanisms can help maintain service availability even if exploitation occurs. The fix involves adding proper bounds checking for array indices before memory access operations, ensuring that num_action values and inputNum parameters are validated against expected ranges before processing. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in networked audio systems.