CVE-2016-1000276 in Audacity
Summary
by MITRE
Audacity version 2.1.2 is vulnerable to DLL Hijack, it tries to load avformat-55.dll without supplying the absolute path, thus relying upon the presence of such DLL on the system directory. This behavior results in an exploitable DLL Hijack vulnerability, even if the SafeDllSerchMode flag is enabled.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1000276 affects Audacity version 2.1.2 and represents a classic DLL hijacking flaw that exploits improper dynamic link library loading mechanisms. This vulnerability stems from the application's failure to specify absolute paths when loading the avformat-55.dll library, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code through strategic placement of crafted DLL files in the system directory. The flaw specifically manifests when the application attempts to load the required DLL without establishing a secure loading context, thereby undermining the operating system's security measures designed to prevent such attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-426, which describes the weakness of untrusted search path usage in dynamic loading scenarios. When Audacity attempts to load avformat-55.dll without providing an absolute path, it follows the standard Windows DLL search order that prioritizes system directories, making the application susceptible to DLL preloading attacks. This behavior remains exploitable even when the SafeDllSearchMode flag is enabled, which typically restricts DLL loading to the application's directory and system directories only. The vulnerability occurs because Audacity's loading mechanism does not properly utilize the LoadLibraryEx function with appropriate flags to enforce secure DLL loading practices, allowing attackers to place malicious DLLs in directories that Windows searches before the legitimate library locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to perform privilege escalation attacks, data exfiltration, and system compromise. An attacker who successfully places a malicious avformat-55.dll in the system directory or another location in the search path can cause the application to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Audacity. This creates a significant risk for users who may unknowingly run the application after downloading malicious files or visiting compromised websites. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users may have elevated privileges, as it could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. Additionally, the attack vector requires minimal user interaction, as simply launching Audacity with a malicious DLL in the search path can result in code execution, making it a particularly dangerous flaw in the context of social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term architectural improvements. The most effective immediate solution involves updating to a patched version of Audacity that properly implements absolute path loading for all dynamic libraries. System administrators should also implement application whitelisting policies to restrict which applications can execute on the system, thereby preventing unauthorized code execution. The use of Windows Defender Application Control or similar technologies can help enforce secure DLL loading practices by restricting which DLLs can be loaded from specific locations. Additionally, implementing proper security awareness training for users can help prevent accidental exploitation through malicious file downloads or email attachments. Organizations should also consider deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious DLL loading patterns and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in the OWASP Secure Coding Practices and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code through the compromised application.