CVE-2017-14409 in MP3Gain
Summary
by MITRE
A buffer overflow was discovered in III_dequantize_sample in layer3.c in mpglibDBL, as used in MP3Gain version 1.5.2. The vulnerability causes an out-of-bounds write, which leads to remote denial of service or possibly code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14409 represents a critical buffer overflow condition within the mpglibDBL library implementation, specifically within the III_dequantize_sample function located in the layer3.c source file. This flaw exists within MP3Gain version 1.5.2, a popular audio processing tool used for adjusting MP3 file volumes without re-encoding. The buffer overflow occurs during the processing of MP3 audio frames when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, creating a condition that can be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt normal system operations or potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the MP3 decoding process. When the III_dequantize_sample function processes audio data, it fails to properly verify the size of incoming data structures before attempting to write to memory locations. This particular implementation flaw falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, though it manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition that can be triggered through crafted MP3 files. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multimedia processing and memory safety, where audio decoders must handle potentially malformed data while maintaining robust memory boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities, making it particularly dangerous in networked environments. An attacker could craft a malicious MP3 file that, when processed by MP3Gain, would trigger the buffer overflow condition and potentially allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application. This represents a significant risk in scenarios where users might unknowingly process malicious audio files, such as through email attachments, file sharing systems, or web-based audio processing services. The vulnerability's remote exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers legitimate programs used for remote access and system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14409 should prioritize immediate patching of the affected MP3Gain version 1.5.2, as the original developers have released updated versions that address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement input validation measures to sanitize MP3 files before processing, particularly when dealing with untrusted audio content. Additionally, deployment of network-based intrusion detection systems can help identify suspicious file processing activities that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in multimedia libraries and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of audio processing components. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of vulnerable versions and ensure that all audio processing applications are running patched versions to prevent exploitation through the established attack vectors.