CVE-2015-9100 in LAME
Summary
by MITRE
The fill_buffer_resample function in util.c in libmp3lame.a in LAME 3.99.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-9100 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the LAME MP3 encoding library version 3.99.5. This issue resides in the fill_buffer_resample function located within the util.c source file of the libmp3lame.a library component. The flaw manifests when the library processes malformed audio files, specifically crafted to exploit the buffer handling mechanism during audio resampling operations. Such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in multimedia processing applications where libraries handle untrusted input from various sources.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a NULL pointer dereference condition that arises during the audio file processing pipeline. When a maliciously crafted audio file is fed into the LAME encoder, the fill_buffer_resample function fails to properly validate input parameters or handle edge cases during buffer allocation and resampling operations. This improper error handling leads to a situation where the application attempts to dereference a NULL pointer, causing an immediate application crash and subsequent denial of service condition. The vulnerability specifically targets the library's resampling functionality which is essential for converting audio between different sample rates, making it a critical component in the audio processing chain.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for systems relying on LAME for audio processing tasks. Attackers can remotely trigger service disruption by uploading or transmitting specially crafted audio files that will cause applications using the affected library to crash. This affects a wide range of applications including media servers, content management systems, audio processing pipelines, and any software that incorporates LAME for MP3 encoding operations. The denial of service impact extends beyond individual application crashes to potentially affect entire service availability, particularly in environments where audio processing is a core functionality.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-476 which specifically addresses NULL pointer dereference conditions, and represents a classic example of improper input validation leading to application instability. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to the T1499.004 technique related to network denial of service, where adversaries leverage software flaws to disrupt service availability. Organizations using affected versions of LAME should prioritize immediate patching to remediate this vulnerability, as the impact extends to any application that relies on the libmp3lame.a library for audio processing operations. The fix typically involves implementing proper NULL pointer checks and input validation within the fill_buffer_resample function to prevent the crash condition from occurring when processing malformed audio files.