CVE-2017-15642 in Sound eXchange
Summary
by MITRE
In lsx_aiffstartread in aiff.c in Sound eXchange (SoX) 14.4.2, there is a Use-After-Free vulnerability triggered by supplying a malformed AIFF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/04/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15642 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the Sound eXchange (SoX) audio processing library version 14.4.2. This issue specifically manifests within the lsx_aiffstartread function located in the aiff.c source file, where improper memory management allows attackers to exploit malformed AIFF audio files. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory deallocation handling during the processing of audio file headers, creating conditions where freed memory regions can be accessed or overwritten by subsequent operations. Such flaws typically arise when software fails to properly track memory references or when cleanup routines execute before all references to allocated memory have been resolved. The implications of this vulnerability extend beyond simple memory corruption, as it can lead to arbitrary code execution when the malicious AIFF file is processed by any application utilizing the vulnerable SoX library. This represents a classic example of a memory safety issue that aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-15642 is significant within environments where audio processing is prevalent, particularly in multimedia applications, digital audio workstations, and systems that automatically process or validate audio files from untrusted sources. Attackers can craft specially formatted AIFF files that trigger the use-after-free condition when opened or processed by vulnerable software, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway follows standard attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques such as T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for execution. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows adversaries to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, which could range from simple denial of service to full system compromise depending on the execution context. The vulnerability affects not only end-user applications but also server-side systems that process audio files, making it particularly dangerous in web applications, content management systems, or automated media processing pipelines that handle user-uploaded audio content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15642 require immediate patching of affected SoX versions to address the memory management flaw in the aiff.c file. Organizations should prioritize updating to patched versions of the SoX library, typically those released after the vulnerability disclosure, which include proper memory allocation and deallocation routines. System administrators should implement input validation measures that sanitize audio file formats before processing, particularly in environments where user uploads are accepted. Network segmentation and application whitelisting can help reduce the attack surface by limiting which systems can process audio files and preventing unauthorized execution of potentially malicious files. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual audio processing activities or file format validation errors that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing robust memory safety practices such as address sanitization tools, heap integrity checks, and regular security code reviews can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in other software components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of comprehensive input validation and proper memory management in multimedia processing libraries, aligning with industry best practices for secure coding and defensive programming techniques.