CVE-2011-2911 in libmodplug
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the CSoundFile::ReadWav function in src/load_wav.cpp in libmodplug before 0.8.8.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted WAV file, which triggers a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/03/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2911 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the libmodplug library's WAV file handling mechanism. This issue specifically affects the CSoundFile::ReadWav function located in the src/load_wav.cpp source file, which is part of the libmodplug library version prior to 0.8.8.4. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and arithmetic overflow handling when processing WAV file headers, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers through maliciously crafted audio files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an integer overflow occurring during the parsing of WAV file metadata, particularly when processing the file size or sample count fields within the WAV header structure. When an attacker provides a specially crafted WAV file containing malformed size values, the integer overflow causes the application to allocate insufficient memory for buffer operations. This flaw results in a heap-based buffer overflow condition that can lead to memory corruption and unpredictable application behavior. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 as an integer overflow or wraparound, which is a well-documented weakness in software security practices.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2911 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution capabilities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to cause applications using libmodplug to crash or behave erratically, but more concerning is the potential for arbitrary code execution when the buffer overflow corrupts memory in a way that allows code injection. This vulnerability affects any software that relies on libmodplug for audio file processing, including media players, audio editing applications, and multimedia frameworks. The remote exploitation capability makes this particularly dangerous in networked environments where users might unknowingly download and process malicious WAV files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of the libmodplug library to version 0.8.8.4 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for integer overflow handling. System administrators should also implement input validation controls at network boundaries, filtering WAV files based on file signatures and size parameters to prevent malformed files from reaching vulnerable applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203 as "Exploitation for Client Execution" and T1499 as "Endpoint Denial of Service," highlighting its potential for both service disruption and code execution. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing techniques for audio file processing, using memory protection mechanisms like DEP and ASLR, and conducting regular security audits of third-party libraries to identify similar integer overflow vulnerabilities that may exist in other components of the software stack.