CVE-2009-4754 in Audio Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Mercury Audio Player 1.21 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long string in a malformed playlist (.m3u) file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4754 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw in Mercury Audio Player version 1.21 that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks. This issue arises from inadequate input validation within the playlist parsing functionality, specifically when processing malformed .m3u files that contain excessively long strings. The vulnerability manifests when the application attempts to store user-supplied data in a fixed-size stack buffer without proper bounds checking, creating an exploitable condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and function pointers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite stack data. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft a malicious .m3u playlist file containing a string that exceeds the allocated buffer size, typically measured in bytes within the application's memory management routines. When the vulnerable player processes this malformed playlist, the excessive string data overflows the designated stack buffer, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite the instruction pointer and redirect execution flow to malicious code injected into the stack. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through network-based attacks without requiring local system access, making it a prime target for remote exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with complete system compromise capabilities through the exploitation of the stack buffer overflow. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability can gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data theft, system infiltration, or deployment of additional malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects systems running Mercury Audio Player 1.21 and earlier versions, making it particularly concerning given the widespread use of this media player application in enterprise and consumer environments. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a specially designed .m3u file with a carefully constructed payload that, when opened by the vulnerable application, triggers the buffer overflow condition and executes the attacker's code with the privileges of the running process.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4754 should prioritize immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor, as well as network-level defenses to prevent the delivery of malicious playlist files. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that prevent automatic execution of playlist files from untrusted sources, while also applying principle of least privilege configurations to limit the impact of successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and bounds checking in application security, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through media player applications. System administrators should also consider network segmentation and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts, while security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in other media processing applications and ensure proper memory management practices are implemented across all software components.