CVE-2017-14410 in MP3Gain
Summary
by MITRE
A buffer over-read was discovered in III_i_stereo in layer3.c in mpglibDBL, as used in MP3Gain version 1.5.2. The vulnerability causes an application crash, which leads to remote denial of service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14410 represents a critical buffer over-read condition within the mpglibDBL library implementation, specifically affecting the III_i_stereo function in the layer3.c file. This flaw exists within MP3Gain version 1.5.2 and demonstrates a classic memory safety issue that can be exploited to cause application instability. The mp3gain application, designed for adjusting audio file volume without re-encoding, relies on mpglibDBL for MP3 decoding operations, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for audio processing applications that handle user-provided content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the III_i_stereo function where the software attempts to read beyond allocated memory boundaries when processing MP3 stereo audio data. This over-read condition occurs during the decoding process of Layer 3 MP3 frames, specifically when handling stereo channel information. The flaw manifests when the application processes malformed or specially crafted MP3 files that trigger the buffer over-read scenario, causing the program to access memory locations that have not been properly allocated for the operation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable remote denial of service attacks against systems running affected versions of MP3Gain. When exploited, the buffer over-read causes the application to terminate unexpectedly, disrupting legitimate audio processing operations and potentially affecting automated systems that depend on consistent audio file handling. Attackers could craft malicious MP3 files designed to trigger this specific over-read condition, allowing them to remotely crash the target system's audio processing capabilities. The vulnerability's remote exploitability makes it particularly dangerous in networked environments where MP3Gain might be used to process user-uploaded content, as it could be leveraged to systematically disrupt audio processing services or applications that depend on the software for legitimate operations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of MP3Gain to version 1.5.3 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the buffer over-read condition. System administrators should also implement proper input validation for MP3 files processed through MP3Gain, including file format verification and size limitations to prevent exploitation. Network security measures such as content filtering and sandboxing of audio processing operations can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring for abnormal application termination patterns and establish incident response procedures for handling potential denial of service attacks targeting audio processing systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004: "Utilities: File Deletion" and T1566.001: "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" as attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to disrupt audio processing services or deliver malicious content through compromised audio files.