CVE-2009-1815 in Audioactive Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Sonic Spot Audioactive Player 1.93b allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long string in a playlist file, as demonstrated by a long .mp3 URL in a .m3u file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1815 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Sonic Spot Audioactive Player version 1.93b, which exposes the application to remote code execution attacks through maliciously crafted playlist files. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of playlist data within the audio player software, creating a dangerous attack surface that can be exploited by remote adversaries without requiring local system access or user interaction beyond opening a malicious file. The flaw manifests when the application processes a .m3u playlist file containing an excessively long string, particularly a lengthy .mp3 URL, which triggers the buffer overflow condition in the stack memory allocation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory management within the Sonic Spot Audioactive Player application. When processing playlist files, the software fails to adequately check the length of strings before copying them into fixed-size stack buffers, allowing attackers to overflow the allocated memory space and overwrite adjacent stack data including return addresses and function pointers. This classic buffer overflow scenario enables attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow and inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the vulnerable application process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in stack memory regions where insufficient bounds checking permits data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and privilege escalation scenarios. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to systems running the affected software, potentially leading to full system compromise depending on the execution context and user privileges. The attack vector requires only a malicious playlist file delivered through remote means such as email attachments, web downloads, or malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently interact with external content. The vulnerability demonstrates a clear pathway for attackers to bypass traditional security controls and establish persistent access to target systems.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including disabling support for potentially malicious playlist formats, implementing strict input validation for all playlist file processing, and applying available vendor patches when released. Organizations should also consider network segmentation and content filtering to prevent automatic execution of playlist files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability highlights the importance of input sanitization and proper memory management in multimedia applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution. Defense in depth strategies should include regular software updates, application whitelisting, and monitoring for suspicious execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening playlist files from unknown or untrusted sources to reduce the attack surface and prevent successful exploitation of this vulnerability.