CVE-2016-9961 in game-music-emu
Summary
by MITRE
game-music-emu before 0.6.1 mishandles unspecified integer values.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-9961 affects the game-music-emu library version 0.6.1 and earlier, representing a critical issue in how the software processes integer values during audio emulation operations. This library serves as a crucial component for emulating various video game music formats across multiple platforms, making it a widespread dependency in gaming applications, media players, and retro gaming software. The flaw manifests in the library's handling of unspecified integer values, which creates potential pathways for exploitation through malformed input data that could disrupt normal operation or enable unauthorized code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and handling of integer parameters within the audio processing routines of the game-music-emu library. When processing certain game music file formats such as NSF, NSFE, and other emulation targets, the library fails to properly validate integer inputs that control memory allocation, loop counters, and buffer sizes. This improper handling creates conditions where maliciously crafted input files could cause integer overflow, underflow, or other arithmetic anomalies that lead to memory corruption. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow and underflow conditions, and represents a classic example of improper integer handling that can result in arbitrary code execution or denial of service scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-9961 extends across numerous applications that depend on game-music-emu for audio emulation capabilities. Systems affected include retro gaming emulators, music player applications, game development tools, and various multimedia applications that utilize this library for authentic audio reproduction. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by crafting specially formatted game music files that trigger the integer handling flaw during parsing operations. The consequences could range from application crashes and denial of service conditions to more severe outcomes including potential code execution within the context of the affected application. This vulnerability particularly affects systems where users can provide untrusted input, such as web-based music players, file sharing applications, or any environment where the library processes user-provided audio files.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-9961 primarily focus on updating to version 0.6.1 or later of the game-music-emu library, which includes proper integer validation and handling mechanisms. Organizations should conduct comprehensive inventory assessments to identify all systems and applications that depend on this library, particularly in environments where untrusted input processing occurs. Security teams should implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of applications that process potentially malicious audio files. Additionally, input validation measures should be strengthened at application boundaries to filter out malformed or suspicious audio file content before it reaches the vulnerable library functions. The remediation process should also include monitoring for exploitation attempts through network intrusion detection systems and implementing proper error handling within applications that utilize this library to prevent information disclosure or system instability. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer arithmetic validation in multimedia processing libraries and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of input validation vulnerabilities in software applications.