CVE-2011-0502 in Music Animation Machine MIDI Player
Summary
by MITRE
Music Animation Machine MIDI Player 2006aug19 Release 035 and possibly other versions allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly have other unspecified impact via a long line in a MIDI (.mid) file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0502 affects the Music Animation Machine MIDI Player version 2006aug19 Release 035 and potentially other variants within the product line. This issue represents a classic buffer overflow condition that manifests through malformed input processing, specifically targeting the handling of MIDI file data. The affected software fails to properly validate input length during the parsing of MIDI files, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit the system through crafted file content. The vulnerability operates at the application layer where the MIDI player processes file structures and encounters unexpectedly long data sequences that exceed the allocated buffer space, leading to program termination or unexpected behavior.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the MIDI file parser component of the Music Animation Machine software. When processing a MIDI file containing an excessively long line or data sequence, the application attempts to store this data in a fixed-size buffer without proper bounds checking. This fundamental programming error creates a condition where the buffer overflow occurs during the parsing phase, causing the application to crash or behave unpredictably. The vulnerability is classified as user-assisted remote exploitation since it requires a malicious user to provide a specially crafted MIDI file, though the attack vector can be executed remotely through file sharing or web-based delivery mechanisms. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a common class of software defects that can lead to system instability and potential privilege escalation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as the crash conditions can be leveraged to disrupt legitimate user activities and potentially create opportunities for more serious exploitation. When the application crashes due to the buffer overflow, users lose access to the MIDI playback functionality and may experience system instability, particularly if the application is integrated into larger multimedia workflows or deployed in professional environments. The unspecified additional impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest that the buffer overflow could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks, though the primary concern remains the reliability and stability of the affected software. The vulnerability affects systems where the Music Animation Machine MIDI Player is installed and actively processing MIDI files, creating a risk for both individual users and organizations that rely on this software for audio processing tasks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0502 should focus on immediate software updates and input validation improvements. The most effective approach involves upgrading to the latest version of the Music Animation Machine MIDI Player where the buffer overflow has been addressed through proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. System administrators should implement network-based filtering to prevent potentially malicious MIDI files from reaching end-user systems, particularly in environments where the software is widely deployed. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting user privileges when processing multimedia files can reduce the attack surface. From a defensive perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution and T1059 for command and scripting interface usage. Organizations should also consider implementing automated vulnerability scanning tools that can detect and alert on potentially malicious file content before it is processed by vulnerable applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for secure coding practices and regular security assessments of multimedia processing applications that handle external file formats.