CVE-2007-3006 in MP3 CD Burner
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Acoustica MP3 CD Burner 4.32 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a .asx playlist file with a REF element containing a long string in the HREF attribute. NOTE: it was later claimed that 4.51 Build 147 is also affected.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-3006 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw in Acoustica MP3 CD Burner version 4.32 that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted playlist files. This security weakness stems from inadequate input validation within the application's handling of .asx playlist format files, specifically when processing the REF element's HREF attribute. The flaw allows attackers to craft malicious playlist files that can trigger memory corruption when the application attempts to parse and process excessively long strings within the HREF attribute, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability manifests when the MP3 CD Burner application parses the REF element in .asx files without proper string length validation, causing the application to allocate insufficient memory for the HREF attribute value. This memory corruption can overwrite critical program execution structures such as return addresses, function pointers, or stack canaries, enabling attackers to redirect program flow and execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who may inadvertently encounter malicious playlist files through email attachments, web downloads, or peer-to-peer file sharing networks. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that victims must actively open the malicious .asx file with the vulnerable application, but the attack vector remains highly effective since playlist files are commonly used for organizing audio content and are often automatically processed by media applications. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potential privilege escalation and system compromise, especially when users run applications with elevated privileges.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill and can be accomplished through standard payload delivery mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter such files through legitimate business processes. Attackers can leverage this flaw to install backdoors, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The fact that version 4.51 Build 147 was later confirmed as affected indicates that the vulnerability persisted across multiple releases, suggesting that the underlying buffer management issues were not properly addressed in subsequent updates.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected software versions and implementation of strict file validation policies for playlist files. Organizations should consider deploying application whitelisting solutions to prevent execution of untrusted playlist files and implement network-level filtering to block suspicious file types. Security awareness training for users regarding the risks of opening unknown playlist files remains crucial. Additionally, system administrators should monitor for indicators of compromise and consider implementing intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as successful exploitation would likely involve execution of malicious code through compromised media applications.