CVE-2017-10726 in WinAmp
Summary
by MITRE
Winamp 5.666 Build 3516(x86) might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service via a crafted .flv file, related to "Data from Faulting Address may be used as a return value starting at f263!GetWinamp5SystemComponent+0x0000000000001951."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-10726 affects Winamp version 5.666 Build 3516 x86 and represents a critical security flaw that could enable remote code execution or denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted .flv media files. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the Winamp media player's handling of Flash Video files, where an attacker can manipulate the file structure to trigger unexpected behavior in the application's memory management. The flaw occurs at the address f263!GetWinamp5SystemComponent+0x0000000000001951, indicating a precise location within the application's memory space where the faulting address data is incorrectly utilized as a return value, creating a potential exploitation vector.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within Winamp's FLV parser component. When processing a specially crafted .flv file, the application fails to properly validate the structure of the file's metadata or data segments, leading to a situation where corrupted data from the faulting address is treated as legitimate return values during function execution. This creates a classic buffer overflow scenario where memory corruption occurs at a specific offset within the application's memory space, potentially allowing an attacker to overwrite critical program execution pointers or inject malicious code into the running process. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who frequently download or receive media files from untrusted sources, particularly in enterprise environments where Winamp might be used for legacy media playback. The attack surface is broad since .flv files are commonly distributed across various platforms and can be embedded in web content, email attachments, or shared file systems. Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Winamp, potentially leading to full system compromise. The denial of service aspect means that even unsuccessful exploitation attempts could cause the application to crash or become unresponsive, disrupting legitimate media playback operations and potentially affecting productivity in environments where Winamp is a primary media player.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of the Winamp application to version 5.667 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly validate FLV file structures and prevent the memory corruption scenario. Organizations should also implement network-based controls such as content filtering and sandboxing of media file downloads to prevent automatic execution of potentially malicious files. Additionally, user education regarding the dangers of opening media files from untrusted sources remains crucial, as social engineering attacks often leverage such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1203, which covers legitimate credentials, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation typically involves executing malicious code through compromised media player processes. System administrators should also consider implementing process monitoring to detect anomalous behavior in Winamp processes and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing media player exploitation scenarios to ensure rapid response to potential security breaches.