CVE-2011-10021 in Musik Maker
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
Magix Musik Maker 16 is vulnerable to a stack-based buffer overflow due to improper handling of .mmm arrangement files. The vulnerability arises from an unsafe strcpy() operation that fails to validate input length, allowing attackers to overwrite the Structured Exception Handler (SEH). By crafting a malicious .mmm file, an attacker can trigger the overflow when the file is opened, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. This vulnerability was remediated in version 17.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-10021 affects Magix Musik Maker 16, a digital audio editing software that processes .mmm arrangement files for music composition and editing tasks. This particular flaw represents a classic stack-based buffer overflow condition that occurs during the parsing of malformed input files, specifically targeting the software's file handling mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation within the application's code structure, where the software fails to properly verify the length of data being copied into fixed-size buffers, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an unsafe strcpy() function call that copies data from a maliciously crafted .mmm file directly into a stack buffer without checking whether the source data exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries. This improper handling creates a predictable overflow condition where the attacker can overwrite adjacent memory locations, including the Structured Exception Handler (SEH) chain that the application uses for error management. The SEH overwrite capability provides attackers with a critical vector for code execution control, as it allows manipulation of the program's exception handling flow to redirect execution to malicious payload code rather than allowing normal program termination.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service or data corruption scenarios, as it presents a direct path to arbitrary code execution within the context of the vulnerable application. When a user opens a specially crafted .mmm file, the buffer overflow triggers a program crash or more critically, allows for complete system compromise if proper exploit techniques are employed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users may encounter untrusted audio files or where automated file processing occurs, as it requires no special privileges beyond normal user access to execute the malicious payload. The exploitation potential aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack framework, where buffer overflow conditions are commonly used to achieve privilege escalation and persistent system compromise.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability maps to CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a well-documented weakness in software development practices that fail to implement proper input validation and bounds checking. The remediation approach required for this issue involves updating to Magix Musik Maker version 17, which includes proper input validation mechanisms and safe string handling practices. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including user education about opening untrusted files, network-based file filtering, and ensuring all systems are updated to the patched version. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices and input validation as outlined in the OWASP Top Ten security principles, where buffer overflows consistently rank among the most critical application security weaknesses requiring immediate attention and remediation.