CVE-2017-14160 in libvorbis
Summary
by MITRE
The bark_noise_hybridmp function in psy.c in Xiph.Org libvorbis 1.3.5 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds access and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted mp4 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14160 resides within the Xiph.Org libvorbis library version 1.3.5, specifically in the bark_noise_hybridmp function located in the psy.c source file. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects multimedia applications relying on the library for audio processing, particularly those handling mp4 container formats. The vulnerability manifests when the library processes malformed mp4 files that contain crafted audio data, creating a scenario where the application can be manipulated to execute unintended behavior.
The technical nature of this vulnerability constitutes an out-of-bounds memory access flaw that occurs during the audio psychoacoustic processing phase of vorbis audio decoding. When the bark_noise_hybridmp function processes audio data from a specially crafted mp4 file, it fails to properly validate input parameters, leading to memory access violations that can result in application crashes or potentially more severe consequences. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of insufficient input validation in multimedia processing libraries. The function's inability to properly handle malformed audio data during the psychoacoustic modeling process creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory access patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable remote code execution or other unspecified security consequences. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing malicious mp4 files that, when processed by vulnerable applications, trigger the out-of-bounds memory access. This creates a significant risk for applications that handle user-uploaded media content, streaming services, or any system that processes mp4 audio data without proper input sanitization. The vulnerability affects a wide range of applications including media players, web browsers, content management systems, and streaming platforms that depend on libvorbis for audio decoding. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw fits within the ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique category, specifically targeting application vulnerabilities through crafted input manipulation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected libvorbis installations to version 1.3.6 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the out-of-bounds access issue. System administrators should implement input validation measures at the application level, particularly when processing mp4 files from untrusted sources, including implementing proper bounds checking and memory access validation. Organizations should also consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious mp4 file patterns and implement application sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The fix implemented by the libvorbis maintainers addresses the root cause by adding proper parameter validation and bounds checking within the bark_noise_hybridmp function, preventing the out-of-bounds memory access that previously occurred during psychoacoustic processing of malformed audio data.