CVE-2017-15371 in Sound eXchange
Summary
by MITRE
There is a reachable assertion abort in the function sox_append_comment() in formats.c in Sound eXchange (SoX) 14.4.2. A Crafted input will lead to a denial of service attack during conversion of an audio file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15371 represents a critical denial of service flaw within the Sound eXchange (SoX) audio processing library version 14.4.2. This issue manifests as a reachable assertion abort occurring within the sox_append_comment() function located in the formats.c source file, demonstrating a fundamental weakness in the library's input validation mechanisms. The flaw specifically affects the audio file conversion process, where maliciously crafted input data can trigger the assertion failure, causing the application to terminate abruptly and preventing legitimate audio processing operations from completing successfully.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input sanitization within the audio comment handling functionality of SoX. When the sox_append_comment() function processes malformed or specially crafted audio files containing unexpected comment structures, it encounters a condition that triggers an assertion check which was designed to catch programming errors during development rather than handle malformed user input. This assertion abort represents a classic example of improper error handling where the software fails to gracefully manage unexpected input conditions, leading to program termination instead of recovering from the error or rejecting the invalid input.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15371 extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be exploited by attackers to perform denial of service attacks against systems running SoX or applications that depend on it. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal audio file conversion workflows, making it accessible to both authorized users and potential attackers who might submit malicious audio files to systems processing audio content. The attack surface includes any application or service that utilizes SoX for audio format conversion, including media processing servers, content management systems, and audio editing applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-617, which describes reachable assertions that can be triggered by external input, and represents a failure in the principle of defensive programming where systems should anticipate and handle unexpected conditions gracefully. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under the T1499.004 technique for "Endpoint Denial of Service," as it specifically targets the availability of audio processing services through assertion failures. Organizations using SoX in production environments face significant risk of service interruption when this vulnerability is exploited, particularly in scenarios where automated audio processing pipelines or user-uploaded content systems are in place.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15371 require immediate attention through software updates and patches provided by the SoX development team, as the vulnerability exists in version 14.4.2 and subsequent versions should address the assertion handling issue. System administrators should implement input validation measures at the application level to filter potentially malicious audio files before they reach the SoX processing components, though this approach remains secondary to the core patching solution. Additionally, network-level controls such as rate limiting and file type validation can help reduce the effectiveness of denial of service attacks targeting this vulnerability, while monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual service termination patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.