CVE-2008-5824 in audiofile
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in msadpcm.c in libaudiofile in audiofile 0.2.6 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted WAV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-5824 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow within the msadpcm.c component of the audiofile library version 0.2.6. This flaw exists in the handling of Microsoft ADPCM encoded audio data within WAV file containers, making it particularly dangerous as WAV files are widely used multimedia formats across various operating systems and applications. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when more data is written to a heap-allocated buffer than it can accommodate, potentially leading to memory corruption and unpredictable behavior. The flaw specifically manifests during the parsing of malformed ADPCM audio data, where the library fails to properly validate input boundaries before performing memory operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious WAV file containing specially formatted Microsoft ADPCM data that triggers the buffer overflow condition. When an application utilizing the vulnerable audiofile library processes such a crafted file, the overflow occurs in the heap memory region allocated for audio data processing. This memory corruption can lead to application crashes through segmentation faults or access violations, resulting in denial of service conditions. However, the vulnerability's potential extends beyond simple denial of service, as the heap corruption may enable arbitrary code execution under certain conditions, particularly when the overflow affects critical memory structures or when the application's memory layout permits such exploitation. The context-dependent nature of this vulnerability means that exploitation success relies on specific environmental conditions and the target application's memory management patterns.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-5824 is significant across multiple domains where audiofile library components are integrated. Applications that process audio files including media players, audio editing software, content management systems, and multimedia frameworks become vulnerable to both service disruption and potential code execution attacks. This vulnerability affects not only desktop applications but also server-side applications that handle user-uploaded audio content, creating a substantial attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability's exploitation can result in complete system compromise when successful, particularly in environments where applications run with elevated privileges or when combined with other vulnerabilities. The widespread adoption of the audiofile library in open source multimedia applications and operating systems amplifies the potential impact, making this vulnerability a critical concern for system administrators and security professionals responsible for maintaining software integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-5824 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the maintainers of the audiofile library. Organizations should prioritize updating to versions that contain fixes for this heap overflow vulnerability, typically involving proper input validation and boundary checking mechanisms in the msadpcm.c file. Additionally, implementing input sanitization measures at the application level can provide defense-in-depth protection by validating WAV file structures before passing them to the audiofile library. Network-based mitigations such as content filtering and file type validation can prevent malicious WAV files from reaching vulnerable applications. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual application crashes or memory access patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) and T1499 (Endpoint Denial of Service) underscores the need for comprehensive security controls including application whitelisting, privilege separation, and regular security assessments to prevent successful exploitation of this heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability.