CVE-2009-4676 in jetAudio
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in JetCast.exe 2.0.4.1109 in jetAudio 7.5.2 and 7.5.3.15 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long title in a FLAC file. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/01/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4676 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in the JetCast.exe component of jetAudio version 7.5.2 and 7.5.3.15. This security weakness specifically affects the handling of audio file metadata, particularly when processing FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) files containing excessively long title fields. The flaw exists within the JetCast.exe module which serves as a streaming and broadcasting component within the jetAudio media player suite, making it a potential attack vector for remote code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the audio file parsing routine. When jetAudio processes a FLAC file containing a title field that exceeds the allocated buffer size, the application fails to properly bounds-check the input data before copying it to a fixed-size stack buffer. This classic buffer overflow condition occurs because the software does not validate the length of the title string before performing the memory copy operation, allowing an attacker to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The flaw is classified as a CWE-121 stack-based buffer overflow, which directly enables attackers to manipulate program execution flow through stack memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and potentially catastrophic for affected systems. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially formatted FLAC files with excessively long title metadata, which when processed by the vulnerable jetAudio version, would trigger the buffer overflow condition. This exploitation could result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack requires no local access or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various means including email attachments, malicious websites, or peer-to-peer file sharing networks where users might unknowingly download and play the crafted audio files.
The attack surface for this vulnerability extends beyond simple media playback to include any system running the affected jetAudio versions, particularly in enterprise environments where media players are commonly used for entertainment or professional audio processing. Given that the vulnerability exists in a streaming component, it could also be exploited in networked environments where media servers or broadcast systems are configured to process user-uploaded audio files. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and incident response planning, as it represents a persistent risk that could be leveraged for privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or as a foothold for further network infiltration. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation would likely involve executing malicious code through the compromised media player process.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of all affected jetAudio installations to the latest versions that contain the necessary input validation fixes. System administrators should also implement network-based controls such as content filtering and file type restrictions to prevent the download and execution of potentially malicious audio files. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted media files and the importance of keeping their media player software updated. In cases where immediate patching is not possible, network segmentation and application whitelisting can provide temporary protection by restricting the execution of the vulnerable JetCast.exe component. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in multimedia processing applications, highlighting the need for robust buffer management and bounds checking in all file parsing operations.