CVE-2017-14632 in libvorbis
Summary
by MITRE
Xiph.Org libvorbis 1.3.5 allows Remote Code Execution upon freeing uninitialized memory in the function vorbis_analysis_headerout() in info.c when vi->channels<=0, a similar issue to Mozilla bug 550184.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/29/2022
The vulnerability CVE-2017-14632 represents a critical remote code execution flaw in Xiph.Org libvorbis version 1.3.5, a widely used library for handling Ogg Vorbis audio compression. This issue manifests when the vorbis_analysis_headerout() function in info.c processes uninitialized memory during the freeing operation, specifically when the channel count parameter vi->channels is less than or equal to zero. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices that create conditions where freed memory locations are accessed or manipulated, leading to potential arbitrary code execution capabilities.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which addresses use after free conditions in memory management. When the library encounters invalid channel configurations during audio header processing, it attempts to free memory that may not have been properly initialized or allocated, creating a scenario where attackers can manipulate the memory state to execute malicious code. This flaw operates at the intersection of buffer management and memory safety, where the improper handling of edge case inputs leads to exploitable memory corruption conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across numerous applications and systems that depend on libvorbis for audio processing, including media players, streaming services, and content management systems. Attackers can craft malicious Ogg Vorbis files that trigger the specific code path when vi->channels<=0, causing the library to free uninitialized memory and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This remote code execution capability makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in networked environments where users might unknowingly process malicious audio content.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in relation to the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services through memory corruption vulnerabilities. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign input validation issues can escalate into serious security threats when combined with improper memory management. Organizations using libvorbis should immediately update to patched versions and implement input validation measures to prevent malformed audio files from reaching the library's processing functions, particularly focusing on channel count validation and memory allocation verification.
This vulnerability type represents a classic example of how library-level security issues can affect entire ecosystems of applications. The similarity to Mozilla bug 550184 indicates that such memory corruption patterns are not unique to libvorbis and suggest broader architectural considerations for memory safety in multimedia processing libraries. The remediation process requires not only updating the library but also implementing comprehensive testing for edge cases and ensuring proper memory initialization before any freeing operations occur.