CVE-2017-11663 in WildMIDI
Summary
by MITRE
The _WM_SetupMidiEvent function in internal_midi.c:2315 in WildMIDI 0.4.2 can cause a denial of service (invalid memory read and application crash) via a crafted mid file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-11663 resides within the WildMIDI 0.4.2 multimedia library, specifically in the _WM_SetupMidiEvent function located in internal_midi.c at line 2315. This issue represents a classic buffer over-read condition that occurs when processing malformed midi files, demonstrating a fundamental flaw in input validation and memory management within the audio processing pipeline. The vulnerability affects systems that utilize WildMIDI for midi file interpretation and playback, creating potential attack vectors through maliciously crafted midi file inputs that could disrupt normal application operations.
The technical flaw manifests when the _WM_SetupMidiEvent function processes a specially crafted midi file that contains malformed event data. The function fails to properly validate the bounds of midi event structures before attempting to read memory locations, leading to an invalid memory read operation that results in an application crash. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to denial of service or information disclosure. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory safety and input validation, where insufficient bounds checking allows arbitrary memory access patterns that can cause program termination.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant denial of service risks for applications that depend on WildMIDI for midi playback functionality. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious midi files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, will cause immediate application termination without proper error handling or graceful degradation. The impact extends beyond simple crashes to potentially affect broader system stability when the vulnerable library is integrated into larger multimedia applications, media servers, or embedded systems that process user-supplied midi content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks through application-level exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-11663 should focus on immediate patching of WildMIDI to version 0.4.3 or later, which contains the necessary bounds checking fixes for the _WM_SetupMidiEvent function. Organizations should implement input validation measures that sanitize midi file inputs before processing, including implementing proper bounds checking and memory access validation routines. Additionally, deploying application sandboxing techniques and input filtering mechanisms can help contain the impact of malformed midi files. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual application crashes or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper bounds validation in the midi event processing loop, preventing the invalid memory read that previously caused application termination.