CVE-2017-14412 in MP3Gain
Summary
by MITRE
An invalid memory write was discovered in copy_mp in interface.c in mpglibDBL, as used in MP3Gain version 1.5.2. The vulnerability causes a denial of service (segmentation fault and application crash) or possibly unspecified other impact.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-14412 represents a critical memory management flaw within the mpglibDBL library, specifically affecting MP3Gain version 1.5.2. This issue manifests in the copy_mp function located within the interface.c file, demonstrating a classic example of an invalid memory write condition that can severely compromise system stability and security. The flaw occurs when the application processes malformed MP3 files, creating a scenario where the program attempts to write data to memory locations outside of its allocated boundaries, thereby violating fundamental memory safety principles. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous as they can be exploited to cause system crashes or potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors when combined with other weaknesses.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability constitutes a buffer overflow condition that falls under CWE-787, which specifically addresses "Out-of-bounds Write" scenarios where programs write data past the boundaries of allocated buffers. The flaw in copy_mp function suggests that the application fails to properly validate input parameters or buffer sizes when processing MP3 audio data, leading to unauthorized memory modifications. When the application encounters malformed or specially crafted MP3 files, it attempts to copy data without proper boundary checks, resulting in memory corruption that ultimately triggers segmentation faults and application crashes. The vulnerability's potential for causing unspecified other impacts indicates that beyond simple denial of service, it could theoretically enable more complex exploitation scenarios depending on the execution environment and additional system weaknesses present.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-14412 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a significant security risk for systems that process or handle MP3 files from untrusted sources. In enterprise environments where audio processing applications are deployed, this vulnerability could be exploited by attackers to cause persistent service outages, potentially leading to business disruption and loss of productivity. The denial of service aspect directly impacts availability, which is one of the core principles of the CIA triad, making this vulnerability particularly concerning for mission-critical systems. From an attack surface perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers "Evasion: File System Evasion" and potentially T1059.007 for command execution through file processing. The vulnerability's exploitation typically requires minimal privileges and can be executed through simple file manipulation, making it accessible to attackers with basic technical knowledge.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-14412 should prioritize immediate patching of affected MP3Gain installations, as the vulnerability exists in version 1.5.2 and likely affects other versions within the same release series. Organizations should implement comprehensive input validation mechanisms that verify MP3 file integrity before processing, including checksum validation and format consistency checks. Additionally, deployment of application sandboxing techniques and memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries and address space layout randomization can provide defense-in-depth measures against exploitation attempts. Network administrators should consider implementing file type filtering and content inspection at network boundaries to prevent potentially malicious MP3 files from reaching vulnerable systems. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular software updates and security assessments, as it demonstrates how legacy applications can contain critical flaws that persist across multiple versions without proper security maintenance. System monitoring should include detection of segmentation fault patterns and application crash events that could indicate exploitation attempts, while incident response procedures should account for handling potential denial of service scenarios caused by this memory corruption vulnerability.