CVE-2009-4962 in Fat Player
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Fat Player 0.6b allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a long string in a .wav file. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-4962 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in Fat Player version 0.6b, a media playback application designed for handling audio files. This vulnerability specifically affects the processing of .wav file formats and creates a significant security risk that can be exploited by remote attackers to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The flaw manifests when the application encounters a malformed .wav file containing an excessively long string within its data structure, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for malicious purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the Fat Player application's audio file parsing routines. When processing a .wav file, the software fails to properly bounds-check the length of strings contained within the file's metadata or audio data sections. This deficiency allows an attacker to craft a specially designed .wav file with a string that exceeds the allocated buffer space on the stack, causing a buffer overflow condition. The overflow corrupts adjacent memory locations including the return address on the stack, enabling attackers to redirect program execution flow to malicious code they have injected into the memory space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe threat landscape for users of Fat Player 0.6b, as it can be exploited remotely without requiring local system access. Attackers can deliver malicious .wav files through various vectors including email attachments, web downloads, or compromised websites, making the attack surface particularly broad. The remote execution capability means that simply opening or previewing a malicious file can result in complete system compromise, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow, which classifies such flaws as critical security weaknesses due to their potential for arbitrary code execution.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate exploitation as it represents a fundamental flaw in the application's memory management practices and input handling mechanisms. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary commands through compromised application processes. The vulnerability also demonstrates poor secure coding practices that violate industry standards for memory safety and input validation. Organizations using Fat Player 0.6b are particularly vulnerable as this version likely lacks proper stack canaries, address space layout randomization, or other modern exploit mitigation techniques that would make successful exploitation more difficult. The widespread use of .wav files in multimedia applications makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through common media playback scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-4962 should prioritize immediate patching of the Fat Player application to version 0.6b or later, as vendors typically address such vulnerabilities through code updates that implement proper bounds checking and input validation. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based restrictions to prevent the execution of .wav files from untrusted sources, particularly in environments where users may encounter potentially malicious content. Additional protective measures include deploying application whitelisting solutions that restrict the execution of untrusted media players, enabling intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file handling patterns, and conducting regular security assessments to identify other potentially vulnerable applications. Users should be educated about the risks of opening media files from unknown sources and encouraged to maintain updated software versions to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.