CVE-2017-15955 in bchunk
Summary
by MITRE
bchunk (related to BinChunker) 1.2.0 and 1.2.1 is vulnerable to an "Access violation near NULL on destination operand" and crash when processing a malformed CUE (.cue) file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15955 affects bchunk version 1.2.0 and 1.2.1, which is a tool used for converting CD image files into separate audio and data files. This issue stems from a critical memory access violation that occurs when processing malformed CUE files, which are text files containing metadata about CD images including track information and sector positions. The vulnerability manifests as an access violation near NULL on the destination operand, indicating a classic buffer overflow or memory corruption issue that can lead to application instability and potential system compromise.
The technical flaw in bchunk originates from inadequate input validation and memory management within the CUE file parsing functionality. When the application encounters a malformed CUE file, it fails to properly handle boundary conditions during memory allocation and data copying operations, resulting in a crash when attempting to write to memory locations that are either uninitialized or improperly allocated. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The specific nature of the crash suggests that the application attempts to dereference a null pointer or write to memory that has not been properly allocated, creating a potential pathway for attackers to exploit the memory corruption for malicious purposes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes, as it represents a significant security risk for systems that process untrusted CD image data. Attackers could potentially craft malicious CUE files that would cause bchunk to crash or, in more sophisticated scenarios, could exploit the memory corruption to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This vulnerability affects environments where bchunk is used for processing optical media images, including digital preservation systems, multimedia applications, and any software that relies on CD image manipulation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal file processing operations without requiring special privileges, making it an attractive target for remote exploitation in automated systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-15955 should focus on immediate version updates to bchunk 1.2.2 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory access violation. System administrators should implement strict input validation procedures for any CUE files processed through bchunk, including file format verification and size limitation checks to prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, deploying application sandboxing techniques and restricting file processing permissions can help contain potential exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of systems running vulnerable versions of bchunk. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities through memory corruption attacks, and reinforces the need for robust software security practices throughout the development lifecycle.