CVE-2014-8145 in Soundexchange
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple heap-based buffer overflows in Sound eXchange (SoX) 14.4.1 and earlier allow remote attackers to have unspecified impact via a crafted WAV file to the (1) start_read or (2) AdpcmReadBlock function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-8145 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow flaw within Sound eXchange (SoX) version 14.4.1 and earlier implementations. This vulnerability exists in the audio processing library's handling of WAV file formats, specifically affecting two distinct functions within the software's reading capabilities. The flaw manifests when SoX processes malformed WAV files that contain crafted data structures designed to exploit memory management vulnerabilities in the application's heap allocation mechanisms. These buffer overflows occur during the parsing and interpretation of audio data within the WAV file format, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the start_read and AdpcmReadBlock functions of the SoX library. When these functions encounter malformed WAV files containing oversized or malformed data fields, they fail to properly validate input parameters before attempting to allocate memory or copy data into buffers. This lack of proper input sanitization creates opportunities for attackers to overflow heap-based buffers, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations with malicious data. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory corruption and format parsing, where the audio file parsing logic does not adequately verify the size or structure of data elements before processing them.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-8145 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the heap-based buffer overflow can potentially enable remote code execution depending on memory layout and system configuration. Attackers can craft malicious WAV files that, when processed by vulnerable SoX implementations, trigger the overflow conditions in either the start_read or AdpcmReadBlock functions. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description reflects the potential for various security consequences including arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or system compromise. This vulnerability affects any application or system that relies on SoX for audio file processing, including media servers, audio editing software, and multimedia applications that incorporate the library.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which specifically addresses buffer overflows occurring in heap memory allocations. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with those documented in MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation may enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and proper memory management in multimedia processing libraries, particularly those handling complex file formats like WAV that contain multiple data structures and metadata fields. Organizations using SoX or applications built upon it should prioritize immediate patching and consider implementing additional input validation measures to prevent exploitation of this memory corruption vulnerability.
The remediation approach for CVE-2014-8145 requires updating to SoX versions that contain fixes for the identified buffer overflow conditions in the affected functions. System administrators should also implement network-based detection measures to identify and block potentially malicious WAV files, particularly in environments where users can upload or process audio content. Additional mitigations include deploying address space layout randomization, stack canaries, and other exploit prevention techniques that can reduce the effectiveness of potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing file type validation and content scanning mechanisms to prevent the processing of malformed audio files that could trigger this vulnerability.