CVE-2009-0555 in Windows
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Windows Media Runtime, as used in DirectShow WMA Voice Codec, Windows Media Audio Voice Decoder, and Audio Compression Manager (ACM), does not properly process Advanced Systems Format (ASF) files, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted audio file that uses the Windows Media Speech codec, aka "Windows Media Runtime Voice Sample Rate Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/18/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-0555 represents a critical security flaw within Microsoft Windows Media Runtime components that affect multiple core audio processing subsystems. This vulnerability specifically targets the DirectShow WMA Voice Codec, Windows Media Audio Voice Decoder, and Audio Compression Manager (ACM) modules that collectively handle audio processing operations within Windows operating systems. The flaw manifests when these components process Advanced Systems Format (ASF) files that contain maliciously crafted audio data using the Windows Media Speech codec, creating a remote code execution vector that can be exploited by attackers without requiring local system access.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper input validation and memory handling within the Windows Media Runtime processing pipeline. When the affected components encounter ASF files containing specially crafted audio samples, the parsing logic fails to properly validate the sample rate parameters within the Windows Media Speech codec data structure. This validation failure creates a buffer overflow condition that can be leveraged by attackers to overwrite critical memory locations and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected process. The vulnerability specifically affects the way the audio processing components handle voice sample rate values during the decoding process, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and control program execution flow.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-0555 extends across multiple Windows platforms including Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista, making it particularly dangerous given the widespread deployment of these systems. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by delivering malicious ASF files through various attack vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites that automatically trigger the affected audio processing components. The remote exploitation capability means that users need not interact with the malicious content directly, as simply opening or playing the crafted audio file can trigger the vulnerability. This makes the attack surface particularly broad and the potential for mass exploitation significant, especially in enterprise environments where users frequently access untrusted content through web browsers or email clients.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution. The vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia processing components can serve as attack vectors for remote code execution, highlighting the importance of input validation in all system components that handle user-supplied content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling automatic playback of audio content, applying Microsoft security patches, and configuring network firewalls to block potentially malicious ASF file transfers. Additionally, security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual audio processing activity and file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a prime example of how multimedia frameworks can introduce significant security risks when proper input validation and memory management practices are not implemented, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security testing of all system components that process external data inputs.