CVE-2017-14411 in MP3Gain
Summary
by MITRE
A stack-based buffer overflow was discovered in copy_mp in interface.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-2017-14411 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow within the mpglibDBL library, specifically in the copy_mp function located in interface.c. This flaw exists in MP3Gain version 1.5.2 and demonstrates a classic software security weakness that can be exploited to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the audio processing routines that handle mp3 file parsing and manipulation. When the copy_mp function processes certain malformed or specially crafted mp3 data streams, it fails to properly validate the size of data being copied to a fixed-size stack buffer, creating an exploitable condition that can be leveraged by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write operation that occurs when the function attempts to copy audio frame data without sufficient boundary checks. This flaw directly maps to CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent stack memory locations. The overflow can potentially overwrite return addresses, function pointers, or other critical stack variables, providing attackers with opportunities to redirect program execution flow. The nature of this vulnerability means that attackers can craft malicious mp3 files that, when processed by MP3Gain, trigger the buffer overflow condition and potentially execute arbitrary code on the target system.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to systems that process user-uploaded or externally sourced mp3 files through MP3Gain. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can deliver malicious content via web applications, file sharing platforms, or other attack vectors without requiring local access to the target system. The potential for remote code execution makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where MP3Gain is used as part of automated media processing pipelines or web services. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability can also be leveraged to create persistent service disruptions, particularly in environments where audio processing is critical to application functionality.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of scripting languages for code execution, as the overflow could potentially be used to inject and execute malicious payloads. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader application security testing, particularly focusing on input validation and memory safety mechanisms. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption to include potential system compromise, data integrity violations, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations using MP3Gain or similar audio processing tools should prioritize immediate patching and implementation of additional input validation measures to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of using memory-safe programming practices and static analysis tools to identify similar buffer overflow conditions in legacy software components that may not receive regular security updates.