CVE-2017-10683 in mpg123
Summary
by MITRE
In mpg123 1.25.0, there is a heap-based buffer over-read in the convert_latin1 function in libmpg123/id3.c. A crafted input will lead to a remote denial of service attack.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10683 represents a critical heap-based buffer over-read flaw within the mpg123 media player library version 1.25.0. This issue specifically affects the convert_latin1 function located in the libmpg123/id3.c source file, where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory access patterns. The flaw manifests when processing specially crafted media files containing maliciously formatted ID3 metadata, particularly those with manipulated latin1 encoding sequences that exceed expected buffer boundaries. Such vulnerabilities fall under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through remote code execution pathways where an attacker can craft media files with malformed ID3 tags containing excessive latin1 character sequences. When the mpg123 library processes these files, the convert_latin1 function attempts to read memory beyond the allocated buffer space, potentially causing the application to crash or exhibit undefined behavior. The heap-based nature of the over-read indicates that the vulnerable memory allocation occurs on the heap rather than the stack, making the exploitation more complex but still highly impactful for remote denial of service scenarios. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities for denial of service attacks through manipulation of input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-10683 extends beyond simple application crashes to encompass broader system stability concerns within environments that utilize mpg123 for audio processing. Media servers, streaming applications, and any software platforms that depend on mpg123 for handling audio files become vulnerable to remote denial of service attacks, potentially disrupting services for legitimate users. The vulnerability affects systems where mpg123 is integrated as a library component, including but not limited to multimedia applications, audio processing tools, and embedded systems that rely on this specific library version. Attackers can leverage this flaw to repeatedly crash services or applications that process user-uploaded media files, effectively creating persistent denial of service conditions that can degrade system performance or render services unavailable.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of mpg123 library installations to version 1.25.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. System administrators should implement input validation measures that sanitize ID3 metadata before processing, particularly focusing on latin1 encoding sequences that exceed normal parameter limits. Network-level protections can include implementing content filtering mechanisms that scan media files for suspicious ID3 tag structures, while application-level safeguards should incorporate proper bounds checking and memory allocation validation. The remediation process must also consider dependency management practices to ensure that all systems utilizing mpg123 are updated to versions that address this specific heap-based buffer over-read vulnerability, as outlined in the CERT/CC advisory for this particular CVE. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all systems that may be impacted by this flaw and establish monitoring procedures to detect potential exploitation attempts.