CVE-2009-0135 in Amarok
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in the Audible::Tag::readTag function in metadata/audible/audibletag.cpp in Amarok 1.4.10 through 2.0.1 allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an Audible Audio (.aa) file with a large (1) nlen or (2) vlen Tag value, each of which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/26/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-0135 represents a critical security flaw in the Amarok media player software ecosystem that emerged from improper input validation mechanisms within its audio metadata processing subsystem. This issue affects Amarok versions ranging from 1.4.10 through 2.0.1, creating a persistent threat vector that has remained relevant in understanding how multimedia applications handle malformed data. The vulnerability specifically resides in the Audible::Tag::readTag function located within the metadata/audible/audibletag.cpp source file, where the software fails to adequately validate integer values during audio file parsing operations. The flaw manifests when processing Audible Audio (.aa) files, which are proprietary audio formats used by Amazon's Audible service, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for users of digital audio content platforms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from integer overflow conditions that occur when processing the nlen and vlen tag values within Audible audio files. These values represent the length specifications for name and value fields within the audio metadata structure, and when set to excessively large values, they cause integer arithmetic to wrap around and produce negative or unexpected results. The vulnerability operates through a heap-based buffer overflow mechanism where the application attempts to allocate memory based on these malformed integer values, resulting in insufficient buffer allocation that allows subsequent memory writes to overflow into adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which is classified as a fundamental weakness in software development practices that fail to properly validate numeric input ranges. The heap-based nature of the overflow means that attackers can potentially manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running Amarok process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service scenarios to represent a full remote code execution threat that could be exploited by malicious actors. Attackers can craft specially malformed Audible Audio files containing oversized nlen or vlen values that trigger the integer overflow conditions, enabling them to overwrite critical memory structures and potentially inject malicious code into the application's execution context. The implications are particularly severe given that Amarok is a widely used media player that processes various audio formats and could be tricked into parsing malicious files through social engineering tactics or automated download mechanisms. This vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia processing libraries can become attack vectors when they fail to implement proper bounds checking and input validation, creating opportunities for attackers to leverage seemingly benign file formats into sophisticated exploitation scenarios. The attack surface is further expanded by the fact that these files could be distributed through legitimate channels, making detection and prevention more challenging for end users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-0135 require both immediate patching and architectural improvements to prevent similar vulnerabilities in multimedia processing applications. The most effective immediate solution involves upgrading to Amarok versions that contain the necessary security patches addressing the integer overflow conditions in the Audible tag processing code. System administrators should also implement file validation mechanisms that perform preliminary checks on audio metadata before processing, including verifying that tag length values fall within reasonable ranges and implementing strict bounds checking for all numeric inputs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of applying the principle of least privilege and input validation as outlined in the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. Organizations should also consider implementing application sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization to reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security auditing of multimedia processing libraries and frameworks should be conducted to identify similar integer overflow conditions that could create analogous vulnerabilities in other software components.