CVE-2016-10170 in Wavpack
Summary
by MITRE
The WriteCaffHeader function in cli/caff.c in Wavpack before 5.1.0 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via a crafted WV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-10170 resides within the Wavpack audio processing library, specifically in the WriteCaffHeader function located in the cli/caff.c source file. This flaw affects versions prior to 5.1.0 and represents a critical security issue that can be exploited remotely to trigger a denial of service condition through out-of-bounds read operations. The vulnerability manifests when processing specially crafted WV files, which are the native file format used by Wavpack for audio data compression and storage.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and boundary checking within the WriteCaffHeader function. When a maliciously constructed WV file is processed, the function fails to properly validate the header structure and data offsets, leading to memory access violations that occur beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This out-of-bounds read condition can result in program crashes, undefined behavior, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution environment. The flaw operates at the level of file format parsing and header validation, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered during normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges or complex exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that utilize Wavpack for audio processing, including media servers, audio editing applications, and any software that handles WV file format processing. The remote attack vector means that adversaries can exploit this vulnerability through network-based delivery of malicious files, making it particularly concerning for web applications, content delivery networks, and any system that accepts user-uploaded audio files. The denial of service impact can disrupt legitimate audio processing workflows and potentially provide attackers with a means to exhaust system resources or cause application instability, which could be leveraged as part of broader attack campaigns.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient boundary checking in memory management operations. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting weaknesses in software applications to achieve denial of service. Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching to version 5.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the boundary checking implementation. Additionally, implementing input validation measures, file format sanitization, and restricting file type processing in applications that utilize Wavpack can provide layered defense against exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual processing patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts and establish robust update procedures to ensure timely deployment of security patches.